I think Riley and I started going to sing and dance and hear stories at the library when she was about 7mo old. We really enjoyed it. She obviously didn't participate much, but she enjoyed it and it got us out of the house. We've gone on and off since then. We hadn't been for months when I decided to brave the cold and take her today.
I took the walker to give my mom a break from loading and unloading the wheelchair. The walker is slow. So slow that we were on time when we parked, but by the time I got from the car to the reading room we'd missed the beginning. It was a good size group despite the cold. Riley was very skittish at first.
By the time laminated kitties were being handed out Riley was with the program. She presented her purple kitty on cue and put the bean bag on all the correct body parts during the beanbag song. She's so big now.
I had taken someone's seat when I walked in, well they gave it to me (thank goodness). I'm terrible at getting on and off the floor right now. I remember thinking this was a good group all around grownups and kids. I let Riley check out a cute little lift the flap book. At which point I spent 5 awkward minutes figuring out how to lift Riley to reach the water fountain while pushing the button. At which point we pottied in the "companion stall" and suited up to hit the playground.
A lot of the kiddos from story time where there probably for a while (walker=slow)when we arrived. All the kids were all bundled up and playing happily when we arrived. All the moms with their pretty sweaters that made me feel frumpy in my big red coat were standing in a circle chatting. We entered the gate and not 60 seconds later every one of them had evacuated. Did I imagine their hurry? Maybe it was the cold and my timing. I hate that it bothered me, but it did.
I want to be a pretty sweater mom chatting with my friends on the playground not a frumpy coat girl with a walker watching my mom (bless her) climb around with Riley. I hate this part. This almost, but not quite back to normal part. It's complete crap. I'm so happy we went today and for all the help I get, but I really want to wake up decide to take my kid somewhere and go.
I want to be one of the pretty, together moms. I'm tired of this crap. I don't want to observe my children I want to engage. Wah, wah, wah...Enough of that. Riley got on the swings at 2yrs and just shy of 4mos old and pumped her legs and made it go! I was so proud of her. It took Isaac until 6yr old to figure it out, but we didn't have swings in the back yard (or a backyard at all then).
Pumping at Two and a Third demonstrates something really good !~! We're trying to teach a toddler or two that that will make the swing go even if we are not pushing but it's been very slow going. May I respectfully ask how you taught her that specific skill ?~!
ReplyDeleteLots of practice on the backyard swing set. I made up a song about it, Riley responds well to that. It's kind of a game too, Mommy or an imaginary moster "getting" her legs/her kicking me so she bends and straightens them according. She's always liked rhythms and been very independent though, like I said her brother didn't get it until he was 6.
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