A new age brings on new personality traits, new triumphs and new challenges.
By Heather Camlot
For the last couple of months, I’ve noticed Alexandre changing. Seems others have noticed, too. The most common comment has been “he’s a big boy now.”
And it’s true.
When I look at and listen to him, there’s no “baby” left. Not an ounce of baby fat, not a toddled misstep, not a mispronounced or misunderstood word. He refuses to use baby plates, baby cutlery, even baby cups. He wants the breakable stuff, because he’s a big boy.
He no longer pulls out board books for his bedtime story, and will sometimes read a word or two in a book with a proud look upon his face.
On the evening of his birthday, he took it upon himself to wash the dishes. His grandmother was shocked and delighted. When he was done, Alexandre turned to me and said, “Mom, whenever you need help with the dishes, just ask me.”
The other day, Juliana was struggling with a puzzle. He sat down next to her and asked if she wanted him to help her. She said yes. I looked at my five-year-old boy, smiled, and told him that was a nice offer. He shrugged it off and said, “she needs me.”
Don’t get me wrong. Alexandre still fights with his sister. He still has an annoying tendency to shriek because he thinks it’s funny. And he still won’t get dressed, brush his teeth, go to bed, wake up…when he’s supposed to.
But he’s a big boy now. And I can’t wait to see what this new phase will bring.
First published August 2009 on MySweetBaby.ca.
Heather Camlot 