Not really… Just finding myself pressed for time to gather and organize photos and supplies for Monday and Tuesday’s scrapbook session. I tried for four days to sit at my laptop and choose photos to upload and print. Did I get it done? No. Why? Aiden. Err.
No, I’m not “hatin’” on my child, I’m just occasionally put out that he is such a mamma’s boy at this age. I typically can’t sit down for more than 2-3 minutes before he’s tugging at me to hold him, play with him, etc. I can’t even sit on the toilet for 20 seconds most days- in a flash he’s at my toes, ankles and then the toilet paper roll. Ah!
Stupid, why don’t I get a play pen? I have one. Then use it! Hm, no. I don’t mind using it occasionally when absolutely necessary, like when I’m mopping or using cleaners in places he can reach. But I can’t stand to put him in it any more than that, I feel it is cruel to use it as an every day escape for mom when baby should be learning by exploring freely, not screaming to be let out of a cage.
Have you guessed that I’m claustrophobic yet? Yep, just a little. But that doesn’t have much to do with not using a play pen. I believe that babies should learn the appropriate physical boundaries with familiar inanimate objects very early in life. How are they supposed to learn what is fun to play with, which chairs to pull up on and that an oven gets hot if they are constantly thrown into a prison of navy mesh and stuffed animals? Er duhhh, they don’t. They don’t because the second they pull a book off the shelf or drool in the dvd player it’s off to the play pen!
So, why did I buy a playpen? I didn’t. Huh? It was a gift. I truly appreciate it too, I am just reeeally disturbed by the amount of overuse and abuse of many different types of baby gear and technology.
That is my rant for today… It took me all day to write this tiny piece of a blog, but I don’t care. Not too much. I am occasionally annoyed at the amount of time things take, or that I have to schedule things for a babysitter, but I am always more ecstatic that my baby is exploring his world and loves his mamma… and hopefully won’t have an abandonment complex after all my ranting! 
Oh yes, during my many breaks, naps, feedings, cleaning, cooking, exploring and blogging sessions I got my photos printed. Yes!
Goodbye!
3 Comments
Aww. Don’t be claustrophobic with Aiden.
Stumbled.
I agree with you completely. I love having my little Liam with me playing with his connectible rings and his little stuffed puppy! The thought of plopping him in a play pen makes me feel like I’m saying, “I can’t be bothered with him, I have more important things to do” and that’s not true! What’s more important than sharing these times with him? He’s 6 months old and it’s bad enough that I miss some of his firsts while I’m at work! When I get home, and on the weekends, I want to get in as much “Liam & mommy” time as I can! That’s not to say that I don’t need a little time to do other things (like laundry, cleaning, etc.) but thankfully he loved Baby Einstein so he’ll watch one dvd with daddy and I can get things done! Children crave interaction; that’s how they learn!
Erin,
I love when I find other young moms with some of the same convictions and feelings! I know Liam enjoys his mommy time! I run into new moms all the time, but I tend to sort them into the “not sane” category because they ascribe to everything they read in parenting magazines without questioning the magazine or themselves.
I hope that when Liam is 10 months that you are having as much fun together as I am with Aiden!