Growing and Changing
This past weekend we took the boys to their third Children/Family Retreat at Earthsprings. I noticed several things about this particular experience as well as some of the boy’s recent behaviors/accomplishments that I’d like to share.
I have always told the boys what we are going to be doing days in advance. Well, after days of telling the boys that we were going to Earthsprings for the retreat, Friday morning arrived. I told the boys that we’d leave for Earthsprings when Daddy Brad got home from work (he went in for a half day) and that we’d take their naps in the car. So Friday morning all I heard (mostly from Forest) was “Daddy…Bye bye…SpringS!” And when Daddy got home you’d have thought the most exciting thing in the world had happened because they ran to the car and jumped in. Not ordinary behavior. We were thrilled to see this expression of excitement.
I’m not sure how much has to do with my being more relaxed and how much just is, but this time it was a lot easier for us three parents to handle them and take care of ourselves as well. I remember past retreats being a flurry to try and get food into them and us. But this time, only one parent would need to watch the boys and the other two would get a chance to eat. Or mornings Brad and I were able to get breakfast while the boys played with others or would draw.
We had no sleep issues the whole weekend. I attribute this in big part to arriving early enough for the boys to realize where they were and get adjusted so that when it was time for bed, they weren’t confused and overstimulated.
As of this weekend, Forest will tell you that his name is “Foes” and that his brother’s name is “Lon” (or something like that). Both boys are really starting to understand this whole “name” thing and understand that everyone has one. They are very proud of the names that they know including O.E., the Earthsprings’ Black Lab. He’s a bit of an older dog and hasn’t been in the best of health this past year. But you’d have thought it was five years ago the way he was acting and the boys went right along with it. They’d wake up each morning asking for “dog, OE” and wanting to go pet him. I walked outside yesterday morning to find OE holding a long thin stick in his mouth with Forest on one side and Logan on the other tugging and trying to get it away from him. He followed us on all of our walks with the boys and really made their day.
The boys were very particular about wanting all three of us parents together the whole time. Any time one of us would leave to go help prepare a meal or something, one or both of the boys would get upset and put a call out for the missing parent. And in two year olds, this means some pretty obsessive behavior. But like all things at this age, as much as it is crazy behavior, it’s sweet in it’s meaning and the understanding that they are expressing.
Logan’s obsessive behavior can get over the top though and I really don’t know how to handle it. He’ll get something into his head, like that he wants something or to do something, and I no matter how much or often I tell him that we don’t have that or why we can’t do it, he won’t let go of the idea and says it over and over again. It usually ends in some kind of emotional break down when he finally realizes it’s not going to happen. It’s sad.
Forest is very bossy recently, and Logan can be as well. They now like to grab our hands and tell us to “go” places that they want to go or do things that they want to do. Forest takes our faces into his little hands as he moves us to look at him when he’s trying to tell us something.
Due to the crazy weather ups and downs (highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s in a 24 hour period) we are all battling colds. Plus, I think that both boys are teething again. So emotions are running high and Forest in particular seems to be very unhappy and on edge. He’s super sensitive about his brother being in his space and yet will go right up to him and hit him or push him. He’s also bitten Logan several times recently 9I’ve found that this only happens during teething). I’m praying that the weather will even out soon so that we can all get well and get past this negativity.
Forest got sad and weepy when we left Earthsprings on Sunday to come home. It touches my heart so much that they love being there as much as I do. He was also sad and kept asking for Green Daddy (Dusty) so I think he may have thought Dusty was going to stay there without them. Luckily, Dusty was just a few minutes behind us on the road and came right over to show Forest that no, Daddy was still here and won’t be far.
It was a joy to share time with our family and friends at Earthsprings this weekend and to reflect on all the recent changes in the boys as they move so quickly into their twos. Their behavior can be over the top now but it’s also showing an incredible amount of understanding and empathy. They communicate pretty well and amaze me with demonstrations of their personalities and intelligence.
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loved this update. they sound like a total joy and the biggest challenge too. isn’t that the truth with this parenting thing. :)