I Spoiled my Son Today

No I didn't buy him any new toys. We did not dine out on fancy shmancy foods. There were no grand adventures to fun little kid places, no new stylish clothes (as if a 1 year old would care), and no sugary treats. Actually I didn't spend a penny but boy was today different.

First thing this morning I let him dump the dogs water out on the floor. I let him play in the puddle and I let him clean it up all by himself. Then we sang songs together in the kitchen while I made fresh blueberry pancakes and he emptied the cupboards. After breakfast he went dust bunny hunting and I screeched in horror every time he found one and waved it in my face. He couldn't stop laughing. I have no idea what his fascination is with dust balls.

About a month ago I came to the harsh realization that not only had I welcomed into the world this amazing little man who I have the opportunity to love and cherish but additionally I have the responsibility to teach him and raise him up to the best of my ability. You always contemplate the love part but at least for me the teaching part didn't really sink in until I had this little 15 month old person living in my home who thought it ideal to point and scream at the top of his lungs anytime he wanted something. The hubby and I had this major oops moment when we realized we'd been rewarding his screeching (and teaching him to do so) just by getting him water, or milk, or food anytime he started to freak out. At one point I looked at my husband and asked, "Oh no, did we teach him that?!?!" Yep.

Finding balance between washing dishes, taking care of laundry and the dogs, cooking, teaching the one year old that, "NO, it's not okay to stick your hands in the garbage can!" and spending good quality time with him is very VERY tricky. It's pretty easy to go about the day, throw out the "NO" word ALOT, and forget that he's one and dumping the dogs water all over the floor is actually a pretty good learning experience in itself. I do think he needs to learn that the water is there for a reason and it's not okay to dump it but sometimes I also need to lighten up and let him be 1.

Last night I decided that I was going to let today be "no" free. I heard it escape my mouth a few times this morning. It's really difficult to not say. But we had a lot of fun doing rascally things, all free of charge. Abe grabbed a mustard bottle out of the fridge while I was getting his milk. Normally I'd just put it right back. Instead (don't ask my why there were two empty mustard bottles in the fridge... I think I need to add something to my to do list) I rinsed it out and we played mustard bottle squirt guns in the back yard. My goodness 1 year olds  LOVE water! We smelled flowers and picked them. We stomped in puddles. He went through about 4 outfits. He took his first bubble bath. We listened to lots of music, sang, and danced. And we tried not to say no. It was a very good day.

He wanted to wear those boots. Goof ball.

And he took a really great nap : )