Monday, March 14, 2005

The first signs of maturity...

Whenever I talk to new first-time parents and share in their joy of their child's 'firsts', I often find myself reminding them that while the first year or so is about physical development - sitting up, crawling, standing, walking, using their hands to grab and clap, and eating more and more solid food - The second and third years are about cognitive development - talking, learning, playing etc. Of course, as my oldest is only three, I couldn't really get a bead on years 4 and 5. But I am starting to see a new trend emerging - maturity.

Yes, I know maturity is a relative thing. Ask my wife and she will tell you that I am only a couple of years on the maturity scale above my kids. But I think that this is best way to describe what is going on inside his little head.

He hasn't started doing too many new things that he didn't do before, but the difference is in how he does them. For example, before when he didn't want to go to sleep, or when he first woke up, and mom and dad wouldn't let him out of his room, he would scream until he was blue in the face. Now, he accepts reality by going to his bookcase and taking out a book to read. I can't tell you how many nights I've gone up to check on him where he was reading a book - or where he was fast asleep with an open book still clenched in his hand.

It is just truly amazing how the little helpless baby we brought home from the hospital not much more than 3 years ago now resembles a little boy.

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