Happiness is Being the Youngest in the Middle

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Dear Jansen,

Congratulations on your promotion to “youngest in the middle”. You have worn this badge of honor with great pride now for two weeks. You have truly managed to assert yourself, and proven to us that you are a boy with a very strong will and character.

Jansen, you will always be my “little” Baby Jansen, but even I have come to realize that you are now a little big boy. You have matured over the past two weeks and shown us that you can do so many things for yourself. “Me do!” seems to be your mantra, maybe as much to remind yourself, as it is to let us know that you want to and CAN DO things on your own.

Last weekend was a great example of a “me do!” situation from which you did not back down, you didn’t falter and you did not fail – you DID do it! The morning started, as every morning has started the past two weeks – with a diaper change, followed by the same conversation as the previous morning. “Jansen, your PJs are wet. We need to get dressed.” to which you answer a resounding “NO! Batman PJs not yucky!”. After a brief debate over the state of the Batman PJs, you reluctantly realize that perhaps you would be more comfortable in clean clothes, but not just normal little boy attire. NOPE! It has to be your fleece dinosaur PJs.

I understand and respect that your world has been turned upside down after we brought home Baby Jonah, little man, I get it. I know you have lost all sense of being in control, so if there’s a tiny shred of control to be had you will cling onto it with your dear life. Please know that your dad and I respect your strong-willed desire to only wear PJs. We do not mind being “those parents” who appear in public with a child wearing fleece dinosaur PJs in 80 degree weather. We know that your appearance is not a reflection on us as parents with poor clothing choices, but rather an sign that we fully embrace the unique wishes of our child and we support his need for control. (Besides, this is not our first experience with little boys and their sometimes odd clothing choices. Read my previous post: “It is just a phase“)

So we found your favorite PJs in the dryer and finally got you changed. Then we decided to go for a walk to a local playground little over a mile from the house. Your older brothers were riding their bikes, the baby was placed in the back of the double stroller, and you… you were expected to sit in the front of the double stroller – where the big boys always sit. But NO… you wanted to ride your tricycle and be cool like your brothers. When we wouldn’t let you ride your trike, you decided that you would have NOTHING to do with the stroller, because it was for babies!

So you walked!

For over a mile in 80 degree weather, wearing fleece PJs, you walked! With your bottle of milk clenched tightly between your teeth (I know, I know – a two year old with a bottle… walking with it in his mouth… THE HORROR – but since we were CLEARLY in the picking-your-battles mode the bottle and all dental concerns were swept aside.) Not only did you walk the whole way, declining my MANY invitations to sit in the stroller. You still had energy to run around and play with your brothers on the playground – and… you walked the entire way home.

Watching your little sweaty (slightly stubborn) body walk the whole way there and back assured me that you will be OK. This period of adjustment is a little rough at times, but your strong little legs and even stronger mind will get you through this – and in no time you will have asserted yourself in your new role as “youngest in the middle”. However, should you ever need a break from being a big kid, just know that I will be right behind you – offering you a lift in the stroller – because sometimes even the toughest kids need a break from being big.