Not an easy child

Bella isn’t a calm, docile, mellow child. Really. I mean, she isn’t a basket case or out of control. But she is very emotional. Her sensitivity to things is high, she doesn’t enjoy a lot of change, and she thrives on a schedule and routine. Which is wonderful. Until we have an out of the ordinary day.

The thing with a high strung child is that all is fine and dandy until life comes along. Take today. I wanted to go get her some wool diapers because she’s leaking through her night time ones. So I plan to leave in between her two naps (9-11 and 1-3 ON THE DOT) after lunch with about 45 minutes at the store.

Until after driving 20 minutes, we get there and they are closed. At 12pm. Not for lunch, not for anything. Their sign says “Holiday Hours 10-2 M-F.” Well, by golly, it’s Monday at 12. SO…

Irate, I call them. It goes to a cell. I am livid. Apparently no one understands when I arrive somewhere, I expect you to be open.

::deep breath::

Realizing it isn’t always about me, (stop laughing) and that I still need diapers, we head back to the car. Where Bella throws an epic tantrum about having to be in the car seat again. Because?

It’s 12:15. And apparently, even being thisclose to nap means we need to be at home.

I look up the other cloth diaper store to find it’s another 20 minutes away. Fine. We’ll be quick in there.

Until I walked in and saw all the choices. Bella was ok playing with their toy set up, but I couldn’t just walk off and leave her. So finally I picked her up and browsed through the tightly jammed store with 20 other moms and babies.

Note to self: It’s 65* out. Do not wear a down coat. Do not put your child in a coat. Do not wear coats that are slippery together when holding a very unhappy child.

As I try to get what I need, Bella struggles to get down. I let her and she takes off. So once again, I pick her up. And more fussing. I’m trying to pay as the owner chats on the phone and I’m searching for my wallet one handed in my purse that Bella is sitting on against my hip.

I’m hot and cranky. She’s hot and tired. We are both done.

I felt frustrated. What had I done? Does she need to get out more? Less? More sporadic activities? Or do I just need to keep my day structured for a while till she outgrows this?

Because 3 months ago, she wasn’t like this. It has to be a phase.

Then my mom told me it was natural. Most toddlers go through a whiny, clingy phase around this age, and her naps are right on schedule. And she would be fine. I was not raising a hermit or a future old lady that lives just with her cats. Children are different than each other, and each one reacts differently to life situations.

She reminded me to appreciate this time, because two 2 hour naps weren’t going to last forever.

I adore Bella. I love how passionate she is about things, her highs and lows, the excitement she has for the world. She’s a very special little girl.

And yet. I was still happy for bedtime today. All 13 hours of it. 🙂

p.s. I’m on FB now. Come chat.