Bag O'Tricks

Isabel had a grand time at the library today. We were at circle, singing songs and reading books and she was, as she always is when there are othere wee ones around, much more interested in them than anything else going on. She striked up conversations, even tried winning over some of the moms with smiles. At one point she was so fascinated with the book that was being read she absolutly had to crawl across the room and sit down directly in front of the book to watch. Then when the story was over she crawled right back to me. Too cute. Then she started to pay a bit more attention to the action that was going on in the circle. When everyone clapped she did too. When the mommies were singing she decided to join in (still needs to distinguish between outside/inside voice). Oh and she "danced" along with the songs also (jumping). I can't believe how far she has come in the past 9 months.Just in this past month alone she figured out how to clap, raise her arms to play "How big is Isabel?", wave bye-bye and say it, said her first word (duck), pulled herself up to stand, walking with help and is even starting to cruise (walk along the furniture). Amazing. I think this past month I learned about a new computer program and that's it. Izzy is grooving away and I think that by Christmas she'll be walking all onher own.

Mind your Belief System

Tonight Jordy, Izzy and I (I feel like my name should end in a y too) went over to Jordy's friend's (well okay I guess they're mine too, well 50% because when you're married that's what you get from your partner) house to visit and reintroduce them to Isabel because they are lovely enough to babysit this saturday when no one else is available. The last time Isabel saw them was when she was 3 months old and she'll be 9 months tomorrow. So that's a long time. Anyway, we're all chatting and stuff and the conversation leads this way and that way and I'm discovering that something has changed here. Right here in this room at this very moment. Hmm, what is it? I can't put my finger on it, then it hits me. What these friends are saying is offending me, well maybe not offending, that's too strong of a word. They're finding something funny about children that I see no humour in what-so-ever. And my response is indicative to that. Huh. What happened? I'm a pretty intuitive person and my gut is telling me that I'm sounding like "those people", you know, the ones who have children and turn into assholes who no longer have friends who are childless. But I can't help it. It's a gut reaction. They think having your child fetch you beer is funny and actually know people who do this with their children and do not see the harm to the child in this situation. What has changed here? Is it because I have a child? Would I have found this funny a year ago or even two years ago? Is it because I'm a CYC worker and have seen the end result to these so called humourous parenting styles? Have they just become stupid in the past 6 months? WHAT?! WHAT?! I became very mindful in that moment of how my beliefs and theirs ended up on the opposite sides of the room. I hope that this isn't a trend.