How To Tire an Energetic Toddler

I don't enjoy saying NO, STOP and DON'T all day long.

And I really don't want to be that Mom..

The one who develops my sons image of this world

in terms of all the things he "can't" do.

But it takes a lot of effort, energy and patience to stay positive as a parent.

Three qualities that seem to be on short supply since the moment I earned the "Mom" label.

So I have had to improvise,

to find some tricks that help me stay sane

while also having a fun,

positive experience with my kiddo.

My favorite such activity,

the Adventure Walk.

We take our Adventure Walk nearly every early evening,

from about 4-5:30 p.m., give or take.

No stroller.

No specific destination.

No rules.

We just step out of the house,

and I follow Baby W wherever he leads me.

Sometimes we end up at the park,

sometimes the elementary school across the street,

sometimes the greenbelt,

sometimes all three. 

If Baby W decides he wants to pick up dirt and rub it into his clothes...

I let him.

If Baby W decides to throw rocks into the gutter...

He's allowed.

If Baby W decides to jump in puddles,

take off his shoes,

go down the slide head first,

roll around in the grass

and get dirt under his fingernails,

then I turn off my Momma OCD for an hour and a half

and let him be a boy.

We collect all kinds of goodies on these adventures.

Sticks, stones, shells, rocks, bottle caps.

And just yesterday,

my Momma gave me these fun jars

to display our Adventure Walk discoveries.

 

The best part,

after our walk,

all Baby W wants to do is rest and cuddle on the couch.

And for those of you who know my kiddo,

that's a rare occurrence.