My daughter is a little wild. Not in the sense that she crawled like a feral creature or hissed at everyone, but she definitely has a spirit that sets her apart from other kids. From the moment she entered the world, there was an untamed energy within her that I never saw coming, and no one could have prepared me for the challenge of nurturing this vibrant spirit.
A Daring Toddler
From a young age, Addie was the kind of toddler you’d see at the playground, boldly climbing to the top of monkey bars, pausing only for a moment before launching herself into the air like an adventurous little daredevil. I often imagined that one day she would swing so high on the swings that she would soar into the sky, exclaiming a joyful “Weeeee!” As soon as she learned to crawl, climbing became her new obsession—bookshelves, counters, you name it. After baby-proofing our home, it started to resemble a fortress. We secured every heavy object to the wall, all in an effort to prevent her from creating her own version of a daring escape.
The Transition to a Big Girl Bed
Long before she was ready for a “big girl” bed, we made the decision to transition from the crib. Even as a baby, I’d find her straddling the crib bars as if she were conquering Mount Crib. By eight months, she was standing in her high chair with a determined look that seemed to say, “I refuse to be contained while I eat my strained peas!” Straps were no match for my little escape artist, and the first time I put her on my bike, she flatly declared, “Just go fast.”
A Magnet for Danger
She had this uncanny ability to find danger at every turn. Upon entering a new house, she would immediately fixate on electrical outlets, seeking out something (preferably metallic) to insert. I found myself calling Poison Control more times than I can count during those first two years. It wasn’t due to negligence; we secured all harmful substances. Yet, during walks, she would reach out of her stroller to pluck flowers or plants and try to eat them. My frequent calls became so routine that the operators even knew me by name. After a few chats with Mike at Poison Control, I got smart—I printed out a list of poisonous plants in California, complete with pictures, to help me navigate our wild outings. And when that got old, she started munching on the little “Do not eat” packets found in shoe boxes. Thankfully, those are non-toxic, as Mike assured me.
Mishaps and Adventures
Addie has had her share of mishaps—like the time she shoved Mexican sage up her nose, or when she ate a Sharpie. She even broke her arm on the monkey bars and got stitches from an unfortunate encounter with a flying toolbox (don’t ask). On walks with our dog, I had one leash for her and another for our Pomeranian. Yes, I caught the judgmental glares from other parents, but they didn’t understand that my little whirlwind, if left to her own devices, would dart across the street to pluck a flower and shove it up her nose.
She embodies the spirit of Mowgli from The Jungle Book, drawn to nature and chaos rather than order and safety. She arrived in this world with a loud roar, and that exuberance has never faded.
Creative Chaos
But her adventurous spirit doesn’t stop at thrill-seeking. She has a knack for ideas that most children wouldn’t dream of. For instance, at her third birthday party, she received a baby doll. While most kids would cuddle and care for it, my daughter took it to the bathroom with a few friends to give it a “bath” in the toilet and then rolled it in cat litter. When I walked in, I didn’t have to ask who came up with that plan—I just knew. More often than not, she’s the mastermind behind every wild idea. She’s the one who cut her playmates’ hair, played doctor, and encouraged other kids to unleash their inner wildness. It’s probably no surprise that we’ve lost a few friends along the way. You know who you are. Hope you enjoyed the fruit basket we sent!
Embracing the Wildness
Much like Mowgli, Addie prefers to pee outside and often runs around the yard in just her underwear. In winter, she’s been known to refuse to wear anything but that, and if I had a nickel for every time I exclaimed, “Addie, put on some clothes; the delivery person is here!” I’d be a very wealthy mama.
Despite her wild antics, Addie is also a loving, kind, and funny kid, and she’s started to mellow out as she approaches ten. Thankfully, she’s developed some sense of caution—though she still scares me more often than I can count. People who don’t have wild children often misinterpret this energy as a sign of poor parenting, assuming that my chaotic experience stems from a lack of discipline. Feel free to discuss this among yourselves. The judgmental parents with well-mannered children might believe their parenting is the reason for their child’s temperament, and that’s fine.
I’ve met many parents who had one calm child and then welcomed a second who seems to have come from another planet. One friend recently admitted, “After having my son, I thought I was a fantastic mom. He was so polite and well-behaved, and I took all the credit. Then I had my daughter.” She said “daughter” like it was a spell that could summon trouble. “She’s stubborn and defiant!” she confessed. “No punishment seems to work!”
I know it’s terrible, but I couldn’t help but find joy in her words—not because I was glad she had a challenging child, but because she understood. She had the easy-going kitten and then the feral cat who clawed at everything. Yet she loved them both.
She also mentioned something that only a parent who has seen both sides could appreciate: “Sometimes, my son is so boring that I can hardly stand it. At least my daughter makes life interesting.”
Gratitude for the Adventure
Parenting Addie isn’t easy, but I’m grateful for my spirited daughter. She challenges me daily and occasionally flashes her backside at the UPS guy, but she’s also taught me to approach life with a sense of adventure. While I might think, “This could go badly,” she thinks, “This could be amazing.” I can’t imagine a world without lively, adventurous children—the spitfires and wild ones who bring excitement into our lives.
In summary, raising a spirited child like Addie can be a wild ride filled with challenges, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. These kids may be unruly, but they also teach us to embrace life and its adventures.