Harsh Reality

I was looking at an assembled puzzle with SMILE the other day. He doesn't like it when puzzles are taken apart now. Anyway, this one was all about animals from Australia. We sat on the floor naming the animals, "this one's a wallaby, this one's an armadillo," for a while before we got to "kangaroo."  I was impressed when he knew what a baby kangaroo is called and, in a fit of playfulness,  slapped my legs and told my little joey to sit on my lap.  He smiled his dazzling smile, got up, and jumped- feet first- onto my lap. OUCH!

The harsh reality is that my boys are getting physically bigger and stronger. When SMILE tantrums or is even playful, he can hurt now. It hasn't happened yet but I think it's a matter of time before I get a black eye. Not that he intentionally hits. He just doesn't have the slightest notion of space or his strength, so it's easy to get hit by a flailing arm or get head-butted while he shakes his head.  Even a hug can be a little dangerous because I never know when he's going to squeeze my neck too tight, hang from my neck, or cause me to fall when he wraps himself around me.  I've taken to finding a wall, banister, chair, etc. any time he comes near me just in case. WINK has never struck out during a tantrum but he, too, can be too rough when he's just trying to be affectionate.

Another harsh reality is that, as they get older, my boys are trying to take more liberties without being emotionally ready to do it. Case in point, WINK will try a challenging ladder at the playground and then scream and sob when he gets spooked at the top. Or SMILE will walk out of the house without me (something he should not do) but then get scared when he turns and I'm not right behind him. As they get older, their behavior seems more and more out of place and I'm slowly realizing that my beautiful boys are not just "typical" children in disguise. This is real and will continue to get realer still....