Two year olds are delights and terrors because they so fully express every emotion they experience. Adults filter through emotions and only show what is appropriate to the situation, to the etiquette, to the end results desired. Two year olds, however, have not learned to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate levels of emotion. They temper nothing towards the situation. They just say and behave exactly how they feel. They are on full blast at all times and this is both a pleasure and a pain. A temper tantrum in the middle of Target is embarrassing, refusal to wear X is anger-inducing, and yet the sheer excitement over a bowl of ice cream, or a trip to the park, or a BIRTHDAY CAKE is so 100% delightful, charming, fabulous, oh!! For all of its pains, the joy of watching a little one's eyes alight with delight makes me ask the question: Who cannot help but adore this moment in a child’s life? I feel priveleged to share this moment with Georgia. What makes it even sweeter, even more precious, is that I know inside, though I wish it would never happen, but I know that this moment will pass. The toddler will become a child, who will become a teenager, who will become an adult. But right now, today, this small window in Georgia’s life, I GET TO OBSERVE, to enjoy, to be a part of. I get to be the one who introduces her to butterflies and swimming pools, to ice cream sundaes, the beach, Disney World, etc. And that is beautiful. Being a part of this introduction to the world, to get to re-experience for myself the magic of blowing those fluffy round weeds in the wind, well, quite frankly, it is an honor. I love the terrible twos! How I hope it lasts a while longer.
Two year olds are delights and terrors because they so fully express every emotion they experience. Adults filter through emotions and only show what is appropriate to the situation, to the etiquette, to the end results desired. Two year olds, however, have not learned to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate levels of emotion. They temper nothing towards the situation. They just say and behave exactly how they feel. They are on full blast at all times and this is both a pleasure and a pain. A temper tantrum in the middle of Target is embarrassing, refusal to wear X is anger-inducing, and yet the sheer excitement over a bowl of ice cream, or a trip to the park, or a BIRTHDAY CAKE is so 100% delightful, charming, fabulous, oh!! For all of its pains, the joy of watching a little one's eyes alight with delight makes me ask the question: Who cannot help but adore this moment in a child’s life? I feel priveleged to share this moment with Georgia. What makes it even sweeter, even more precious, is that I know inside, though I wish it would never happen, but I know that this moment will pass. The toddler will become a child, who will become a teenager, who will become an adult. But right now, today, this small window in Georgia’s life, I GET TO OBSERVE, to enjoy, to be a part of. I get to be the one who introduces her to butterflies and swimming pools, to ice cream sundaes, the beach, Disney World, etc. And that is beautiful. Being a part of this introduction to the world, to get to re-experience for myself the magic of blowing those fluffy round weeds in the wind, well, quite frankly, it is an honor. I love the terrible twos! How I hope it lasts a while longer.
No comments:
Post a Comment