Playing with the box – not the gift

I have a niece who is almost a year old.  I have been reminded of my children’s second Christmas.  Since they were born in the summer, they were still infants the first year.  The second year they were walking, babbling human beings.  They really enjoyed watching orchestral Christmas music on TV.  Their favorite movie was Toy Story. (To Infiggity and beyond…..)

This was the year that Christmas lasted and lasted.  Each gift was really two gifts.  If it had a box big enough, the box was a toy, also.  Boxes were for climbing in, building with, making trains out of, putting on their heads, using for shoes and any other activity they could think of.  Then they would play with what was in the box.        

One toy would make my boys happy for several days. 

There was no rush to open all the presents.  Nobody was greedy.  When it seemed like they had started to get a bit tired of any particular toy, we would get out the next set of packages that looked the same.  We would repeat the process. 

This year Christmas lasted two or three months.  Every time they got to open another “set” of presents, we went through the same process.  Peals of laughter rang through my house.  There was lots of crawling around on the floor chasing kids who were chasing toys. 

It was a glorious time.  They are only little once.  Enjoy it Moms and Dads. 

Differential Diagnosis – Mom of Toddlers

When my children were little, one of my favorite parts of the day was right after I came home from wherever I had been.  The three little guys would drop whatever they were doing (unless they were eating) and come running.  It was “climb on Mom time”.  Literally.  

As they got bigger, I learned to sit down on the floor as soon as I could so we could have our “group hug” / “pile on Mom” without me getting hurt.  I still would end up with bruises from feet and hands grabbing.  I considered them badges of honor.  We would roll around and hug and tickle.  I got to hear the laughter and excitement of my little guys. 

I also spent lots of time getting my glasses adjusted from getting them grabbed or knocked off.  I stopped wearing jewelry for quite some time because it was so fascinating to little hands. 

Now you know how to tell those Moms of toddlers – no jewelry, bruises in funny places, often a short haircut or hair pulled up, dark circles under the eyes, a little disorganized, speaking in “small words”, correcting your grammar, and always talking about their kids. 

It’s a phase.  I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world. 

The Triplet Pile On

          The first day of school has me going down memory lane.  When my boys were little, I would come home to an enthusiastic greeting.  Three toddlers would wobble across the room as fast as their little legs could carry them.  It became a “hug Mom” fest. 

          Then it became a “climb Mom” fest.  I had little bruises all over my legs and torso from where their toes dug into my flesh.  I quickly learned to sit down on the floor.

          We had “pile on Mom”.  It came with lots of giggles, hugs and tickles.  I loved it. 

          I miss it now.  But the boys are all taller than I am.  Giggles are now baritone and bass.  I still get hugs.  Sometimes they are group hugs.  Now if I could just get them to use that baby lotion again.  Aahhh, that lovely baby smell…..