As I awaited the arrival of our second child, I gently placed my hands on my pregnant belly, pondering the journey ahead. Our first child, a cheerful, inquisitive, yet cautious little boy, was what many would classify as “easy.” For the most part, he required minimal supervision—at least as much as any child who is dependent on you for everything can be.
He only needed a single explanation of any potential danger to understand not to wander into prohibited areas. Baby-proofing our home consisted of a few hastily installed outlet covers and a baby gate meant more for our dog than him. In public, he stayed close and always wanted to assess the safety of a playground slide before taking his turn.
In contrast, I anticipated our next child would need a bit more vigilance. I hoped she would emulate her brother’s steadiness, leading us to another relatively uncomplicated baby experience. That notion was quickly dispelled during Thanksgiving 2015.
On that day, my daughter, just 6 months old, began her crawling journey. It didn’t take long before she was zipping around the room faster than I could react. Her newfound mobility ignited a thirst for exploration, and soon I realized that crawling and walking were merely the beginning of her escapades. Our home transformed into a fortress of safety, complete with corner bumpers, locks on cabinets, and furniture anchored to walls, with child-safe outlets secured to prevent mishaps.
Yet, all this effort proved futile. While some parents might fret about a child choking on small toys, I found my daughter gnawing on a pencil sharpener and had to wrestle knives from her curious hands multiple times. She boldly approached strange dogs, grabbing their faces to express her affection.
One day, while loading the car with our essentials, I momentarily sat my children on the porch. In the brief couple of seconds it took me to stow the diaper bag, I turned to find my son, but my 15-month-old daughter had vanished. I spun around to discover her grinning in the middle of the street, having stealthily walked behind me.
In many respects, my first child prepared me for the arrival of my daughter. I had a foundation of knowledge, from diaper changes to clearing a stuffy nose. However, much of what I learned was rendered irrelevant. My daughter had transformed our lives into a chaotic arena, determined to explore and conquer.
I can no longer allow my son distance to explore the playground independently; I must remain within arm’s reach of my daughter to prevent her from attempting daring feats on the jungle gym. After countless moments of her slipping from my grasp, I now keep a firm hold on the back of her shirt, discreetly using it as a leash of sorts.
Our household has instituted a ban on board games with small pieces after discovering colorful plastic remnants in her diapers. Groggy mornings often involve a battle with a pantry door, a reminder that I installed a lock up high to keep her from reaching the dog food. At 20 months, I still carry her in crowded places—not for snuggles, but to stop her from making a mad dash across a busy parking lot.
Parents often share how different two children can be, but the details remain vague until you experience it firsthand. “Different” can manifest as one child enjoying quiet play while the other engages in heart-stopping antics designed to terrify their mother.
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In summary, raising a spirited child can be tumultuous and chaotic, but each experience shapes parents in ways they never anticipated. While the journey varies for every family, the lessons learned are invaluable.