One of the most enjoyable things about being the parent of a toddler can be watching your toddler as he or she grows. Seeing a little person make strides in learning how to express himself, use his body to do different fun and practical things, and think his way through different situations are just some of the wonders that we parents can experience as our toddlers develop. Some days it seems as if Dylan is a long way from doing anything independently, and other days he seems to have developed skills beyond his years.
This week, our family is on vacation. We are spending the week on Cape Cod with my dad. The change of location and departure from routine are things that could throw some kids for a loop. So far we have been lucky, and Dylan is taking it in stride. He is also loving spending time with my husband and my dad, because most days at home he’s with me all day long. Not that that is a bad thing, but he is definitely enjoying the variety and the opportunity to do some wonderful things with people that he loves.
We are all having a great time, and Dylan seems to be going through a period of acquiring some pretty neat skills. He is asking to use the potty a few times each day, exhibiting good manners in restaurants (most of the time), and expressing himself in surprisingly complete sentences most of the time. He’s also been playing with my husband a lot, and has learned how to properly swing a baseball bat. He’s improving upon his throwing and catching skills too, and learning how to swim. All of these things are amazing to see, and it makes me feel good that the things that he is doing are not things that we have pushed him to do. They are things that we have helped him learn by following his lead; we notice when he has an interest in something and then we help him learn about it.
Toddlers are amazing little people. Their level of interest in exploring the world around them is contagious. Each day I see Dylan growing and changing, and it is an incredibly wonderful feeling. What are your favorite things that your toddler is doing right now?