Your Toddler at 48 Months…

Firstly… what?!

 

This was the title of an email I was sent today and I couldn’t help but laugh – isn’t it easier to just say ‘your child at 4’? I stopped referring to my children’s ages in months when their clothing size changed to years. Also, I struggle to think of my (soon-to-be) four year old son as a toddler – he can run faster than me and has better balance, he definitely does not ‘toddle’!

Personally, referring to somebody’s age in months is one of my pet peeves, but it did give us a good laugh in the office when we worked out that I’m a whopping 327 months old!

 

One thing this email did get right was the fact that my kids are getting on a bit and are no longer babies, especially with my daughter approaching the grand old age of 120 months! This seems especially amplified now that my close friends are getting to a stage in their lives where starting a family is next on their bucket lists. As such, we are surrounded by baby things again and despite the lovely ‘new baby’ smell customary to all infants, I’m reminded of all the things I don’t miss!

 

1. Public Transport

 

When Megan was born, I couldn’t drive (still can’t) and had to travel via public transport everywhere. Anyone who has kids, and no car, will understand quite how annoying this can be! On most buses, there are usually only two spaces for pushchairs – if there are already two people with buggies waiting, you’ve no chance! Even the Glasgow Subway can be a challenge, a fact we found out recently when Andy and Nikki joined us on a family day out!

 

2. Strangers in your Personal Space

 

Old people are the usual culprits – everyone loves babies so much, that normal social etiquette goes out of the window and it’s suddenly ok to invade the personal bubble of anyone accompanying an infant. When Logan was little, Paul would carry him around strapped to his chest whenever we were at the shops, in the hope we could avoid the space issue presented by buggies. Strangers would often get close enough that I was squeezed out of the way, as they were completely overcome by their need to touch the baby!

 

3. Packing up the Whole House for a Family Day Out

 

Everything I need for a day fits in one small bag – everything a baby needs is too much for one person to carry, especially when also trying to carry said baby! Now that they are older, we only ever experience this travel nightmare at Christmas, and that's usually because we are too disorganised to pack properly!

 

4. Opinionated Family/Friends

 

Not so much friends for us (as I was a teen parent), but many family members or friends’ family members would have an opinion on the correct way to burp, rock, feed, dress a baby, and would think nothing to forcing their opinions on us. Now that I’m writing this, I realise that I’m probably already, or soon to be, that person for most of my friends – sorry in advance guys!

5. 3 o’clock in the Morning

 

3AM is a time that should never be seen! 2AM is acceptable on a night out, 4AM can signal the start of a much needed holiday, with an early morning airport dash! 3AM, however, is an hour that should always involve sleep… unless you have a newborn. Luckily, it only took five weeks for both my children to decide that 3AM was perfect for sleeping!

 

Despite all these annoying things, I’m glad I went through the experience of having babies, I’m just doubly glad that I’m now onto the better stage of raising children!

 

What are you glad to be rid of, now your kids are older? Are you still in the baby phase and hoping to be free of anything soon?
 

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