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Orbiting around mom
Filed under: Babies, Preschoolers, Activities: Babies, Siblings, Day Care & Education
Last spring when I was laid up with pneumonia, I watched the entire first season's search for the "Ultimate Coyote" on CMT. (I know! Blame the fever.) Competing for a cash prize and a job at one of the Coyote Ugly saloons, a dozen or so young women entertained bar crowds by singing, dancing and slinging drinks while trying to impress Lil, the founder of the chain. There was one gal who wasn't the prettiest, or the best dancer, and who couldn't make a vodka tonic to save her life, but she stayed in the competition round after round because Lil said she had the ability to draw people into her. The girl had "GRAVITY." Now, so do I. And I like to think that it isn't just because of my larger post-partum mass. Ahem.
My daughter Claire turns four soon. She has always been a mama's girl. She looks like me, talks like me, and shares my love of all things Target. I can't really blame her. I mean, I am pretty great.
However, since I returned home from the hospital with her little brother seven weeks ago, our closeness has taken on new meaning. These days, I can't take more than two steps without bumping into her. She's drawn to me. If I add the weight of the baby to my arms, she cannot. resist. the. pull.
When I nurse Gage in the recliner, she sits at my feet. When I change a diaper, she's there handing me wipes. Yesterday she ditched playing Barbies in her room to help me dust the living room just so we could be together. It's sweet, really -- until I try to actually get something accomplished or, heaven forbid, leave the house alone. Then, it's as if stretching her orbit out any further than a few yards will upset the very balance of the universe, causing an explosion visible from Mars.
I know it's just a phase. I know it has everything to do with us adding another little planet to the family solar system. I remind myself that the day will come, sooner than I think, when she won't want to hang out with me. One day she'll break free altogether and spin out into her own space.
Until then, we'll circle around each other, colliding occasionally until we settle back into a rotation that works.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-21-2008 @ 11:06AM
Amanda said...I know exactly how you feel! my daughters are exactly 20months apart and now that the youngest is walking too. I cannot go ANYWHERE without turning around and tripping over both of them. they are like dogs, they can be sound asleep but if i walk out of the room....here they come! I have a tiny walk-in pantry and if I have to go in there I just shut the door behind me because you cannot get out until all the little chirens leave too. they usually wallow on the floor outside the door in fits of rage because they are not hanging off my backside.
But, I'm like you, I'm trying to enjoy it now because I know the day will come when they no longer want to hang off or around me :D
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2-21-2008 @ 11:08AM
Jessica said...Nice analogies!
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2-21-2008 @ 11:20AM
SAM said...I tell people I have a magnet in my butt. As soon as I sit in a room where they aren't, pick up the phone to make a call, snitch a cookie before lunch; it activates the magnet in my butt. It's now a joke with friends and family. If they can hear the kids they say, "Your magnet must be on!" Oh, to have it disabled would be worth the pain of seeing a doctor!
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2-21-2008 @ 12:07PM
isisaquaria said...My sister is convinced my niece (3) believes the bathroom transforms into a party when the door closes w/o her. Santia will sit at the door and talk under it while my sis is in there--and you cannot get her to leave for NOTHING! We do not really have the shadow problem.
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2-22-2008 @ 11:15AM
Kristi said...My 3.5 year old daughter was/is the exact same way since her now-11 month brother was born. Every time I'd sit on the couch to nurse, she would sit right next to me and glue herself to my side. Well, occaisionally she will go get a baby doll, lift her own shirt, and pretend to breastfeed too.
It's adorable. It's exceedingly sweet the way she tries to take care of her brother, and to help me out. It's suffocating.
There are days that I feel so sorry for her, having had us to herself for so long (and her grandparents, and beloved aunt and uncle, who had their own long-awaited twins about 3 months after my son was born). And there are days that I feel so sorry for my little boy, who will never in his life get that kind of exclusive attention for more than 30 seconds without his sister butting in. And then, he starts giggling at her.
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2-21-2008 @ 4:20PM
Christina said...Very sweet... :) C
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