Personality

Katherine, you are definitely developing your own personality. And we can already tell that part of your personality is a strong will. I get to watch you test your boundaries (and yes, sometimes that can be a bit frustrating for both of us); but it’s a necessary part of growing as a person and I know there will be a lot more of it in the coming months and years.

In the past few days this has played out with choices you make around food. Up to now it’s been easy – we put food in front of you or in your mouth and apart from a few things you don’t like, you ate most of it. But since a few days you are making very clear choices – if we put something in front of you that you don’t feel like eating, you push the fork away before it reaches you (and yep, I said fork – you don’t like to be fed with a spoon unless it’s food an adult would eat with a spoon too).

Months ago I read that it’s the parents responsibility to put healthy food in front of a child, but it’s the child’s responsibility to choose what and how much of that they eat. Will I force you to eat your broccoli? No. But I am learning to offer you a few of different choices, lining them up in front of you and hand you what you point to. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to not be able to say what you want, so until you do, keep pointing at the food you like to eat and I’ll do my best to “listen”.

You are teaching me that every person, no matter how tall or small, how young or old deserves to be respected. Seeing how you make more of your own choices, I know that as much as I love you and like to cuddle you all the time, it is important for you to grow more independent every day.

PS: sliced veggies are hiding well between your noodles… but that’s my little secret for now.

A Moment in the Sun

Katherine, this morning was a crisp, sunny Okanagan day. Life is busy as always, but this morning I made a choice that it wasn’t too busy to go for a walk. Something I wanted to do for days with you, but we hadn’t gotten around to it for a little while.

Going for a walk is not quite as simple as just sitting you in the stroller as we did in the summer – it’s the season to bundle up before we can get going. Easy for me… thick shoes, warm jacket, gloves and hat… your turn!!! Jacket and thick blanket - no problem, but I had forgotten you don’t like to wear hats. I put them on and you take them off (and no, there is no limit how many times you will try). But today I learned a new trick: put thick gloves on you (which you can’t take off yet) and you can no longer pull your hat off. I have mastered the hat trick (at least for the moment until you will outsmart me soon again).

You are teaching me that some days are about putting fun before work, to take a break for just a moment. Just long enough to smell the crisp air, soak in the sunshine and have lots of giggles along the way. I enjoyed our walk, watching you look at the world around you, following a bird in the air and looking up at me with a red nose and a great smile. Thank you for the moments of sunshine you are giving me.