As the youngest of nine children, I was
often accused of being the "spoiled baby" of the family. I have never understood
why my siblings would take it out on me, though, since I had nothing to do with
either being the last born or having (alleged) extra attention paid to me.
Whatever their reasons, I think I now understand why parents might dote
on their youngest more than the others. It's not because the baby is smarter or
better looking than the older sibs (well, that may have been the case in my
family, but anyway...) It's because getting older means life gets more
complicated. And so too does the teen or young adult going through those awkward
stages. We parents are simply trying to cling to the innocence of the younger
years. Let's face it: while it might be sweet to hear your 4-year-old tell you
about all the boys who kissed her at recess, it's not cute anymore when it's
your 14-year-old telling you the same thing. And the schoolyard problems of the
8-year-old have far fewer long-lasting consequences than the teen whose
highschool is in the downtown core and across the street from a methadone
clinic.
I now have one kid fully entrenched in the drama and hardships
of adolescence and another banging on its door. So it is understandable that I
might indulge my not quite 10 year old and her childhood whims. "Mom, will you
colour with me?" Absolutely! Break out the crayons. "Can you build a snowman
with me?" Let me get my boots on. "Mom will you lie down with me when you tuck
me in tonight?" I would love to, the laundry can wait. "Mom, will you watch 'Dog
With a Blog' with me?" Okay, so maybe not all her whims.
Anyway, before
she left for school this morning, Willa didn't ask but told me I had to look
after Mabel. Is Mabel her sick guinea pig or pet goldfish, you ask? No, she is
one of Willa's many baby dolls. Not just any baby doll, Mabel is the one that
Willa fell in love with the moment her sensor-embedded bottom touched her
sensor-receptive potty and made a tinkling sound. Bob and I have been charged
with Mabel's care before and since she is an exceptionally well-behaved baby
doll, I agreed to look after her again today. And so I find myself with Mabel.
When Willa asks me to look after her baby, I don't just put it out of my
mind until she walks through the door after school. Nope, this mom brings Mabel
with her around the house to engage and stimulate her tiny mind. We read
stories, do laundry, wash dishes, maybe have a playdate and occasionally get
some work done at the computer. You may wonder if I actually accomplish anything
on these days. Well, no, not much really... But I document what I've done with
Mabel so Willa can have a good idea of how Mabel's day went. (All the best
daycares do this, I'm told.) Besides, Willa loves to see the pictures of Mabel's
day and I love to see the smile on Willa's face when she looks through them.
After all, if I am trying to hang on to the sweetness of my baby's
childhood for as long as I can, what's the harm in indulging in it myself? I
can't keep her from growing up and all too soon she won't be so eager to play
with me. So I will revel in it while I can. I will colour with her, play
hairdresser, make snow angels and drink hot chocolate with marshmallows. And if
my kids can't stay young forever, I suppose I will always have Mabel!
You can check out Mabel's day here.
Happy
sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.ca
