Karl's Random Rambling.

I was chatting to someone at work the other day about parenthood, and it occurs to me that whilst there are a few staff here (well, I know of 1 at least) that use non-disposable nappies, it’s regarded as…odd. In fact, our parenting approach seems to be seen as “cult-like” (someone elses words, not mine).

We Co-Sleep – I wouldn’t change it, I love it to bits. Other people range from “OMG, SO dangerous”, to “you’ll never get her into her own now”, to “rod for your own back”, to “when are you going to grow up and stop living like a hippy commune?”.

We use “real” nappies – Love it, wish we’d done it sooner. No chemicals, no nappy rash, no waste. Others range from “POO? EWWW DISGUSTING!” to “it’s not greener, think of the energy wasted washing them”

We don’t watch TV and use it as a digital dummy to keep Izzy quiet – Now THIS does throw people. Bear in mind both Jem and I are “technical” people. Everyone assumes that I am an Uber-geek, with a house full of digital gizmos and finger touch flushing loo with SMS option, etc etc. When I laugh and say “We don’t even have a TV license”, the look on their faces is similar to as if I said “We swing openly, and your parents were ace”. Yes, really.

I don’t feel Izzy is being “left out”…we have the radio on as a rule, and Izzy is continually playing with us, walking with us, helping us, talking to us and being talked to as well. Izzy’s life is pretty much continual interaction and contact in some form. Not for no reason are the nursery staff continually saying “Isabel has managed X, Y and Z today, and done REALLY well.” Instead of TV, she plays and we read. She loves reading, and her imagination play is quite funny to watch.

And so on. I quite like our parenting choices. It gives us the freedom to let Izzy explore herself pretty much without limits. Mess happens, we deal it. She learns by us doing that. I have no intention of dumbing things down..it’s far too much fun.

Last night she got over the fear of our Big Trak (Yes, we have a 2010 rerelease of it)..and she loves it. She can even make it go. She knows how to load up our washing machine, that you must shut the door until it clicks, then move the dials and press the button to start it. The only thing I don’t allow her to do is the powder. She knows how to start up my PC from “off at the mains” cold..I’ve sat and watched as she turns the mains on, then the PC. She has got the hang mostly of clicking things with the mouse.

Last night while we were waiting for the bath to run, I sat and chatted to her about the tower fan, which scares her. Handed her the remote, showed her how to make it go/stop etc. BIG GRIN. She played a bit, then dropped the remote and the battery pinged out. I then watched with considerable feelings of being chuffed as she turned the remote over, spent 3 minutes or so playing with the battery/remote, then slotted it back in. Of course, Nothing is ever that smooth – after she did that she went into the bathroom and…dropped it in the bath. Bless..:) No harm done.

See – that’s just it..I’ve changed. I don’t worry about Izzy playing with things..she can have my mobile, remotes, bigtraks, even my netbook – if it gets dropped or whatever, it’s not the end of the world. What’s the point in giving them toy versions of things, when the real ones are much more fun? I can fix most things. I’d like her to grow up not being afraid of trying things in case they go wrong/get damaged etc.

2 years ago, I’d have been a wreck. :)

Hmm. OK. Still here. Website..still works. Smells a bit unlived in. Best get the windows open then and get things underway a bit!

Where are we at? Lets see.

Isabel is now 15/16 months old (where did it go?!). We’re walking, running, chatting, and merrily amusing ourself now. She’s becoming a “proper” little person in her own right. She has definite opinions, likes, dislikes and preferences.

She’s capable of understanding a lot of things we tell or ask of her now, and often helps out round the house (even loads the washing machine and pushes the “go” button.). It was great fun before, but now it’s moving up a gear – we have to use logic, reasoning, sneakiness, bribery and play to achieve our aims.

She’s a definite cat lover (not to mention she adores the guinea pig)..I think her “most want to cuddle” cat is Fudgie, but he’s still too timid (although he’s getting better).

She’s now been at Nursery for 3 months, and has moved from Baby Room 1 to Baby Room 2 this week. Bigger, more advanced tiddlies, more advanced toys. Seems to be loving it so far. Last night I was able to walk into the room and she was so engrossed she didn’t see me. Playing with the mock-up washing machine. I explained we did that at home..”oh, does she have a toy one?”..”erm..no, she can pretty much work our Indesit actually…don’t see the point in toy ones when there’s a real one!”…”oh! Right..”. Heh.

She can semi dress herself, she’ll leg it off down the corridors saying “car…”..she knows where she’s going, how the day goes now, and how to get herself understood. About the only issue we’ve got at the moment is constipation and witholding..she’s on Lactulose, but it’s not doing much.

What else is going on? Not much. Still at the cottage, managed 2-3 bloody cold snaps with ice on the inside of windows, had some whopping huge heating bills due to it as well. Still got the red Astra, but I’m getting annoyed with the fact it’s only managing 260 miles to a tank. Blue Astra hasn’t changed at all – still on ramps, still not running. No time to do much with them yet!