Tuesday 9 August 2016

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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26 comments

  1. I am 6 months pregnant and I am already not enjoying strangers invading my personal space.

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    1. It's like everyone thinks they are allowed to touch you... I've been close to screaming at people many a time!

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  2. I start counting years once the kids clocked 2. Easier to remember. Lol.

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    1. It's more like when they reach 1 for us, I can't be bothered working out any higher ages in months! :)

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  3. My son is 19 and I still treat him like a baby sometimes lol. Everyone has an opinion on how to raise kids, just go with your own instinct.

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    1. That's the approach we've now taken, it's easier that way! :)

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  4. I've never heard people call 48 months either, what a strange expression. I always see old ladies coo over babies and get into their personal space and I do feel sorry for the mums x

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    1. I'm just glad it was Paul carrying Logan, I don't even get close enough to my friends to hug them! :)

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  5. All of these, absolutely, and dirty, smelly nappies of course!

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    1. Dirty nappies are a given, glad to be rid of them too! :)

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  6. I do not yet have kids but hope one day I will have the chance. One of my pet peeves is strangers in my personal space heck even familiar people I do not like it

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    1. I'm exactly the same, I can't even hug my close friends or family - I hate it!

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  7. My kids are quite old now but I remember it was nice to get things like buggies, high chairs and car seats out of the picture. I'm lucky our neighbours have taken on a few of our hand me downs!

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    1. Our neighbours are all well past the baby stage, most of them are pensioners! :)

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  8. I found this an interesting read despite not having children! :') x

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    1. Children are great, but everything has it's down sides! :)

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  9. I don't have kids but everyone that I know seems to find very difficult the point about nights without sleeping... I hope it's not that hard... haha x

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    1. I'm just glad it only took them 5 weeks each to learn when bedtime was - those first few weeks, I was a complete zombie!

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  10. The public transport and the people coming into your personal space was the worst thing when my daughter was a baby! I was quite lucky as she slept through from 2 weeks and even though I too was a teen parent I was adamant to do everything myself, never lived at home and said I wanted no butting in! You can support me but no 'You're doing this wrong' and 'I did it this way'. My friends are all at the age where they are having kids now and I try not to give them advice unless they ask for it because I know how annoying it would have been for me haha! xx

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    1. I'm terrible, I can't help but try an give advice to my friends, even when they may not want it! I need to get control of myself properly, or I'm going to annoy people soon lol! :)

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  11. The invasion of person space would do my head in, I have no children but already hate it x

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    1. Even hugs are a problem for me, my family constantly make fun of me for it! :)

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  12. Aw I love this! My ex had two little ones and even though they weren't babies I always found people invaded our space whenever I took them anywhere... Especially little old ladies!

    Jess xo | The Indigo Hours

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    1. Little old ladies are definitely the worst, it must be something to do with how they grew up! :)

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  13. Loved this! Don't have children myself but I do have 4 younger siblings and have definitely seen some truth in your post!

    Abi ~ https://abigailporter1.wordpress.com

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    1. Four younger siblings?! I can't imagine the madness in your house! We are definitely done with having more kids, I don't have enough patience! :)

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