For about five spectacular days right after we moved to Tennessee, the moons aligned and both of my children were at the perfect age, the sweet spot, where I could spend more time enjoying them than redirecting or reining in their personalities. Ella’s teething and Carson’s tantrums were forgotten and giggles and glee took over. I don’t know if it was their insecurities at living in yet another new place or if they could feel my tension and knew that they needed to be good. Typically they rotate days, sometimes minutes, when one is on their best behavior, with all of their most wonderful toddlerness shining through, while the other one reminds me that intertwined with sweetness is powerful and sometimes earsplitting emotion.
Sure there have been moments where each one is being sweet in their own right, but in the time I’ve been BOTH of their parents, there has never been a string of consecutive days of toddler adoration.
I didn’t write about these days while they were happening, even though I was aware that they’d reached that sweet spot in their ages. I knew that if I wrote about it, the time would surely come to an end simply for the fact of having shared it. Instead, I folded up the experience and put it in my pocket and kept the little, warm secret all to myself. It is so rare for me to feel complete contentment in parenthood that I took those few days and absorbed their wonder.
At 18 months old, Ella is finally walking and charming me at every turn. Her tiny curls that rest on her neck and pink, sparkly shoes are a stark contrast to her love of being as messy as possible and making car noises. Of course, she can also be the quintessential toddler girl, choosing her outfits and playing dress-up with mama’s red shoes. Then there’s her sweet voice, constantly calling, “Maaaaama! Maaaaama!” as she toddles around, wearing one red shoe and her hands full carrying a Thomas train and a dish towel she’s found in the laundry.
Carson is a full-on three years old, but for those precious days he could not have been more lovable. The way he loves his sister and spontaneously tells her how much he loves her while looking in her eyes with much seriousness and conviction, it gives me hope that I’m doing something right. “I wuv you, Mommy,” he’d say sweetly while asking to help wipe off the counters in the kitchen. At bedtime, I could hear him singing himself to sleep, “Hit the road, Jack. And don’t ya come back, no more, no more, no more, no more…” or “Ba-ba-ba Ba-barbara Ann, Ba-ba-ba, Ba-Ba-Barbara A-an, ta-ake my ha-a-and…”
People often ask, or rather seem shocked, when I explain that my children are 18 months apart. I always find myself assuring people that we purposely had our children close together. I’m met with reactions of both relief (thank goodness it wasn’t an accident) and further shock that ON PURPOSE I’d put myself through the agony. I’m certain that whether they were nine months apart or four years, or any difference in age, there would always be difficult times.
Oh, these two toddlers of mine, I’m so thankful for those precious, perfect days. The sweet spot. Especially now that they’re back to their regularly scheduled teething and other sanity-draining behaviors.
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Rachael
November 13, 2008 at 3:32 pm
So great. I love that sweet spot, and watching siblings together – that picture is just adorable!
Rachael´s lastest post..Petite Update: Bankruptcy & MRIs
Jamie
November 13, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Love love that picture. My sweet spot days are getter sparser. Sniff!!!!!
Jamie´s lastest post..TGITEOS And Twittering
mom2tot
November 13, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I’m glad to know your kids were good for a few days.. that’s always a bliss
flickrlovr
November 13, 2008 at 4:06 pm
That is such a sweet, sweet shot of the two kids <3
Here’s to hoping they see how much Mommy likes it when they’re easy and good and sweet every day and decide to be that way more often-haha.
flickrlovr´s lastest post..Looky! Something shiny!
Maria
November 13, 2008 at 4:08 pm
My girls are 22 months apart. And I’m even more certain, as they grow, that it was the perfect timing.
Such a sweet photo.
Maria´s lastest post..Catechization: Lying
Melani
November 13, 2008 at 4:26 pm
My kids are 20 months apart and I can remember the raised eyebrows when they were little. They are 11 and 9 (almost 10-she requires that I say that) and while they do pick on each other they have so much fun together. It was hard when they were babies but I love the spacing.
Anglophile Football Fanatic
November 13, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Now that is just so gosh darn adorable. I’m glad they are hitting their stride. And, you are obviously doing something right, because at 31 & 38 my brother and I still can’t stand each other.
Anglophile Football Fanatic´s lastest post..Where’s Shania Twain When You Need Her?
Sophie, Inzaburbs
November 13, 2008 at 4:51 pm
People will always find something to raise their eyebrows at. Personally I think why not get it all over with more quickly? Although, my MIL had 3 under the age of 3 and it seems she was always losing one
I have three, with 2 years 2 months between each. Believe me, *that* gets raised eyebrows too.
Sophie, Inzaburbs´s lastest post..Kung Fu Panda : A Micro Review
Rachel
November 13, 2008 at 5:24 pm
That was such a sweet post. Every once in a while the sweetness outweighs the hair-pulling-outness.
Veronica
November 13, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I tagged you for a meme if you feel like doing one?
Veronica´s lastest post..Real Mums
tracey
November 13, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Awwwww…..
FIVE good days? In a ROW?? What were you feeding them? Seriously. I must know.
tracey´s lastest post..Don’t call ASPCA
Lee the MWOB Queen
November 13, 2008 at 7:30 pm
It seems the sweet spots are on some sort of rotating schedule. And it all depends on what time zone you live in. Just kidding. But really my man and I marvel at how our kids can show us that we’re doing everything right one minute and the next minute, we’re like “What are we doing wrong???” Nice post…
Lee the MWOB Queen´s lastest post..Oh, just you wait.
designhermomma
November 13, 2008 at 8:32 pm
oh i’m still waiting for my sweet spot. even if it lasted for 30 seconds that would be fantastic.
designhermomma´s lastest post..crazy old lady
Jenny Henny
November 13, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I just love that picture! I had my girls 22 months apart, and somedays, I really, really can’t believe it was on purpose! At 19 mos and 3.5 yrs, I’d do anything for 5 sweet days! Don’t you dare take that out of your pocket!
Jenny Henny´s lastest post..To Eat the Apple
Slacker Mama
November 13, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Mine are 25 months apart…but they have just started playing together for long stretches where there is no threat of violence or major mischief. There is nothing sweeter than hearing your children giggle because of something they do together.
Slacker Mama´s lastest post..when weekends attack
patois
November 14, 2008 at 12:25 am
So very blessed you are to have the sweet spots, whether they last a string of five days or five minutes.
patois´s lastest post.."Nicees Mother Ever"
anymommy
November 14, 2008 at 1:26 am
My kids are pretty close together too and I love these moments. I’m glad you got that small renewing break, you deserve it!
Jami
November 14, 2008 at 8:25 am
I have twin 3 year old boys. People always look at me with pity when I tell them that (along with the fact that I have a 6month old). But the sweet times more than make up for the craziness. And even in the craziness – I find myself smiling at how lucky we are. (that might be right after I scream in my head – could someone please just LISTEN to me and DO WHAT I TELL THEM!!)
Great post.
lceel
November 14, 2008 at 8:26 am
What a sweet post. It’s really great when those times come. But the picture. There is a picture that is easily worth a thousand times its thousand words.
lceel´s lastest post..Friday Haiku – Campfire
moo
November 14, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Your post gives me hope that one day when I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old, I won’t be banging my head against the wall, wondering why I did this to myself.
Thank you.
moo´s lastest post..karma
Anita Kaiser
November 14, 2008 at 5:33 pm
This is such a beautiful post! The picture so cute!
Anita Kaiser´s lastest post..Following the Dream
jess
November 14, 2008 at 5:47 pm
i really hope all the trolls who hated on you when you posted on a BAD DAY will offer a sincere apology.
xoxo
jess´s lastest post..Lasik anyone?
Jill
November 14, 2008 at 11:01 pm
It’s been awhile since I’ve been here… shame on me!
As another fellow nomad, (though one who “has” to move every 3 years to some crazy country 10,000 miles away from “home”), I am always thankful when my girlies understand our situation and I can capitalize on both of listening to me at the same time.
That usually lasts for a very short amount of time, until they’re familiar with their surroundings and all hell can finally break loose!
Great photo – and look forward to seeing your new digs.
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