They say (”they say” = my mom) that there is no such thing as spoiling a baby. They also say that I was allowed to cry back when I was young since people believed something different. It is convenient for my mother to say this, since as a Grandmother, she does not want my babies crying for one second. 

Ariella is receiving a first hand insight into what it means to spoil a child and is concerned for what happens when you remove all the attention. Has your child then become ‘dependent’ on being entertained and will be unable to play alone from now on?  

From Ariella:

I walk into my parents living room after a nap (a word that does not exist in my vocabulary..I am spoiled too!) and I see Joseph, surrounded by 15 ( literally) adults all applauding and grinning at him in response to something he has just done. He laughs out loud and then knocks down the tower he just built. They all applaud again. He builds the tower. . .  they all applaud again .. . 
 

We have this big fat Joseph party EVERYDAY so far of our trip. Joseph is continually being introduced to new visitors- because we don’t live in the same country as my parents or my in-laws, everyone is super excited to meet him and give him presents and generally spoil him rotten! 

Don’t get me wrong- I love the presents and the attention (and my NAPS!! )

It’s just that I worry.
 

There’s been a few times I have been left alone with my son and guess what? Joseph- who before we got here was SO excellent at playing alone for half an hour or so . . . ( which allowed me time when he was up to return a phone call or read a book or just collapse on the couch) NOW he needs to be constantly entertained and applauded.
 

I love doing that for him but NOT 24/7.
 

So- What happens when we get home? How long to ‘detox’ my son and turn him back into the super independent and easy-going boy I remember?
  

 

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As promised, Ariella is writing to us from the nest..

We are on the road (and in the air!!!) We travelled overseas to visit both my parents and my-inlaws.  In a little over 3 weeks, we will be staying in my parents house, my in-laws house, my uncles cottage, our friends ’shack on a lake’, a hotel, back to my in-laws, back to my parents, staying with friends in a few different cities and back on a plane AGAIN (!)

This means that Joseph  will have slept in over 7 different beds, ride in 5 different cars and car seats and travel in 4 airplanes, be held by over 30 ’strangers’, meet 3 new pet dogs and 1 cat, and cross four different countries borders.

Upon our return to home sweet home, we MOVE the next day. We are either sadistic, crazy, and without a doubt pushing our luck. Icing on the cake? Joseph is starting a new nursery program the day after that. 

Without being biased, which I am, Joseph has really proven his flexibility this trip and is, as always, growing up daily. On this trip he has learned how to put together lego pieces, drink from a ‘big boy’ cup all by himself, let all his grandparents ( and his GREAT grandparents! ) hold him,  learn a few first words, pet his first dog (s), got his walking skills down!, ’swim’ in a pool and generally laugh and giggle up a storm.
 

In general Joseph is throwing crazy joy all around him- where ever he goes. And he’s only been cranky twice.