Welcome to Mars

Remember that whole Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus craze?  I never read the book, because I didn't need a book to tell me boys were different than girls.  (I was in high school when it came out.  I didn't understand myself, let alone the opposite sex. 

Dylan is only eight months old, and I already feel like I am on a different parenting planet than the one we landed on when Abbey was born.  Now, I'm going to go all generalization-crazy here.  Keep in mind I am talking only about my personal experience with my research group, sample size two.  I know that all kids are different, personalities play a big part, blah blah blah blah. 

Yet, I'm telling you, there are stereotypical differences already.  I had a moment of panic when I was pregnant and exhausted and having a rough day with Abbey.  (We didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl.)  I realized that having two teenage girls at once would be terrifying but that having a little boy to chase all around the world was equally terrifying.  I calmed myself down by thinking that not all boys were wild beasts and that I could always invest in wine if we had another girl (just kidding about the wine.  I think.)

I'm sure it's true that not all boys are wild movement machines, but our boy is all over the place.  I remember being able to leave Abbey in the family room with a couple of toys while going to throw in a load of laundry.  I would come back, and she would be calmly playing in the same spot.  If I do that with Dylan, there's no predicting where he will be when I return.  We hardly child-proofed with Abbey, and I am already trying to decide just how many gates and cupboard locks are too many, really?? 

So welcome to Mars.  I can't imagine what it's going to be like when he is walking running all over.  I feel grateful that we've got our little Venus around to balance things out.  And by balance things out, I mean throw tantrums that generally stay in one place.  Because no matter what planet they're from, both are so wonderfully challenging and wonderfully rewarding in their own ways.

until we get another gate, we stop him however we can

foiled again

he doesn't let himself worry about it for too long