happy monster

For the past couple weeks my little Boatboy (age: 14months) has really become the little monster when he doesn't get his way. He is often the most easy-going (not to be confused with stationary, he's VERY active) happiest outoing baby. Think: laughs and says "Boom!" at loud noises, smiles at strangers, etc. At this age LA wouldn't let hardly anyone hold him without screaming and crying. His little brother will go to anyone. Very different children in several ways. That's part of the extreme beauty of parenting.

Watching them relate to one another has gone from 90% playing intervention / 10% having fun to 25% playing intervention / 75% having fun. Boatboy adores his older (21 months his senior) brother...until he doesn't get his way. Which leads us to yesterday afternoon's quick little shopping venture at Target.

It's about a half mile away. We needed my favorite generic brand diapers. Easy little jaunt, right?

I put them in the little 2-seater for the first time where they face each other. They were laughing and LA was tickling Boatboy and all was well. Then, Boatboy started taking everthing out of LA's hands. When LA clung to the item, Boatboy screamed and cried. I had to stop multiple times and squat down to try to calm him. He would calm down until he wanted something else. Now for the hidden jewel in this scene (and it WAS a scene), LA kept giving his little brother anything he wanted and telling him "It's ok. It's ok" in a really sweet little voice. He was also shoving his fingers in his ears because of the pitch level of the little monster's scream. I almost left a full basket (Mr. Blonde refuses to call it a "basket." He calls it a "cart.") in the center aisle and just bolted. Luckily removing Boatboy from the seating arrangement worked and I was able to hurry it up and scramble out.

It is interesting writing this. The first couple of years with LA I really struggled because he would not stay with many people. Major heaps of stranger anxiety didn't make for much flexibility in our lives. Now I am very thankful for his sensitive side. He is such an amazing big brother to Boatboy. Now, they have their moments (see previouisly cited 25% playing intervention), but he really does want to make him happy the best he knows how.

I am truly blessed to watch my sensitive LA interact with my happy Boatboy monster any day. I just won't be watching it occur in a 2-seated shopping "cart" anytime soon.