N. is almost 17 months old, and he's almost always a barrel of fun. He hasn't changed dramatically since I last posted, still likes throwing balls, reading books, loves playing in the park, enjoys going on walks. He's been going to the park a lot recently as it's gotten warmer, and really enjoys exploring things there. Likes to point out birds, dogs, and planes. He recently figured out how to climb onto the couch and two of the chairs, and he practices going up stairs whenever he gets the chance (obviously sometimes it's not safe/practical). I can't tell if he's doing more crying to achieve results or show he's unhappy, or just that we now know that he's pretty aware of what he's doing, so I think that he's using his crying to get what he wants-not that he's necessarily sad or in pain.
I wanted to write about how having a child has made me more sensitive to certain things. I'm sure that this has been said a million times, but I notice that I am much more emotional/tuned-in when I hear a story (usually on the radio or in a podcast) about the parent-child relationship. Sometimes these will be about losing a child, or a child going through a sickness or something like that. Before N. was born I certainly recognized the emotional pull of reports, stories like this, but I really feel it now.
This is likely normal and completely to be expected, I've just noticed a few times recently, and sometimes it even surprises me how much I'll react to certain reports or stories. I also know that I've certainly become more aware of the innocence and resulting need to protect young children. It's not that I didn't feel this way before, but I feel it more strongly and more intensely now.
Something which I didn't think about as much before, but more now as well, is that in many ways, supporting young children means supporting their parents. Supporting the parents is something that is (for some reason) unpopular among some in our society, among some politicians, but it is crystal clear to me that supporting and caring for young children means supporting the parents. It's too bad we don't do more to support parents of children from birth to kindergarten, and we're worse off as a country for not doing so.
Another thing I've been thinking about is how much more I appreciate all that my parents have done for me. I ought to tell them that more often. Part of me thinks that one of the reasons that an adult's parents are eager for grandchildren is so that their child/children will see the amount of work and sacrifice it takes to raise a child. I know that getting to see your family extended to another generation, getting to interact with a beautiful little baby but not have to change too many diapers or deal with the tantrums are some much grander motivations, but a part of me already knows that N. may never understand the feelings that Livia and I have for him until/if he ever has a child of his own.
