The past year has definitely been a roller coaster ride for all of us. First it was Sam’s asthma. We had to experiment a little with his medications to find the best long-term solution for him. This meant multiple visits to the doctor and many sleepless nights. Through all of that we were also working on some attachment issues. I had read a lot about attachment before we brought him home but I had to revisit my books on several different occasions. We worked on trust. He needed to know that we would always be there for him. If that meant going into his room any time he fussed to give him his blanket or rock him, that’s what we did. Gradually, the sleeping got better. We comforted him. If he would fall down or bump into something, one of us was right there to make it better. It was important for us to reassure him that he can always look to us for comfort. We also worked with his teachers at daycare. Initially they would tell us what a good baby he was. We would hear “He hardly ever cries”. Most parents would be happy to hear that but for us it was a red flag that he still hadn’t developed a healthy attachment to his caregivers there. All of his teachers were great but there was one teacher in particular who worked very hard to develop his trust and he slowly started coming out of his shell. They finally started to see the real Sam; the one who can be sweet and silly at times but definitely knows what he wants and will let you know it. He now displays very positive signs of attachment both at home and at daycare.
Fast forward to today. He’s a typical 2 year old boy. If he falls, he immediately looks to mommy for sympathy. He lights up when he sees daddy walk in the room in the morning. He gives his big brother a hug (or high-five) whenever he sees him during the day at daycare. He loves the dog. He looks forward to seeing his friends and teachers every day at school. He gets excited when he sees his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He loves to give kisses... wet, sloppy ones. He’s smart. He is learning new words every day. He’s independent and likes to figure out things on his own. He loves books. His favorite is Peek-a-Who. He’s a showoff. His favorite toys are balls. He will bounce them, kick them, throw them, shoot hoops or play catch. He won’t go to bed without his stuffed puppy and blanket. He has a thing for tags but only the soft ones. He likes to climb, jump and explore new things. He has no fear which makes mommy and daddy very nervous. Did I mention he’s also independent and a little stubborn? Most importantly, he’s healthy and he’s happy and we’re a family. And in the end, that’s all that matters. So while this past year has been full of ups and downs, I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.
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| My sweet baby Sam |
