I’ve been parenting toddlers for over 6 years now, and if you need me, I’ll just be staying at home with our current toddler. Modern day torture as a parent of a toddler for me, would be taking our 2.5 year old Jonathan out somewhere and having him made to be sit still and somewhat quiet. You won’t find us out dining with our family of 5 in a restaurant until Jonathan is at least 4, and I’m not even joking or exaggerating on that one, but I’m also okay with it.
If You Need Me, I’ll Be at Home
I get asked all the time why he isn’t at school concerts or ceremonies and the like, and I just always politely respond “do you know Jonathan? He never sits still!“. I haven’t even bothered trying to take him to church for what seems like months because there’s just no point. Some may say that there is a point and I should keep trying, but when he will worship and listen to the music for maybe 1 minute and run off to the nursery where I don’t get to listen to or pay attention to the worship or sermon that can go up to 1.5 hours in length while he gets bored playing in a room, and then by the time we get home it’s past his nap time—sorry, it’s just not worth it at this age for him or me. I certainly will have expectations of him to sit still and listen for longer periods the older that he gets, but at 2.5 years old, he’s nowhere near expected to do that.
Babysitters Are Worth Their Weight in Gold
It can definitely add up in cost, but I have absolutely loved having a babysitter for Jonathan so I can actually watch and volunteer at our older boys’ hockey games this year. If I absolutely need to, of course I’ll bring Jonathan with me, but I will hardly get to watch any hockey. It is honestly one of the most stressful situations for me to be in, to have to have Jonathan at the arena. Just this last Saturday Ethan’s game got cancelled, so I cancelled our sitter and decided to just suck it up and take Jonathan to the rink for about 1.5 hours for Ethan’s practice. Let’s just say I got my 10,000 steps in shortly after lunch because it was almost non-stop chasing Jonathan for me. Thank the Lord we live in a small community that understands this type of situation and doesn’t judge me for running around calling out for Jonathan, and it wasn’t busy when we were there on Saturday morning.
This Too Shall Pass
Jonathan actually likes to grocery shop with me. He knows he gets a cookie and a banana (or a sticker if we go to Walmart), I know where everything is in our stores and I’m a very efficient shopper and get get in and out in about 15 minutes and he tolerates that just fine. Like anything in parenting, this trying phase will pass, and I’m perfectly happy to wait it out. Just know that if you see me out and about without the toddler, I likely wouldn’t be there if I had to bring him with me.
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Love your posts ! I am interested whith your post re sending great catalog for children can you send me hou to get this?
I totally understand. You just need to do what works for you and your family. I only raised one daughter but she has four kids and I’ve never brought any of them to church until they were about 4 years old. 🙂
Busy or not, he is an adorable little boy. Enjoy every moment because before you know it, he will be 16 and wanting to drive.