Monday, July 7, 2008

Hidden Lesson with Finger Foods!

I've been putting off finger foods (Cheerios, Gerber puffs, etc) with Isaac because his hands are so big. When he picks anything little up, it just gets lost in his chubby fingers! Isaac shocked me with how early he learned to sit up and take a sippy cup, but I figured this was one area that would take a little longer. The doctor said finger foods were a nine month skill anyway. Well, seeing as how he has seven teeth now, I figured it was time he started on real solids... And improved his hand eye coordination! After he enjoyed some (mushy) peas for dinner I gave him some little stars and watched as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do with them. A few (long) minutes later I so badly just wanted to pick them up and put them in his mouth for him, but the "good angel" on my shoulder won so I sat on my hands instead. I knew that the only way for him to learn was to do it on his own. Long story made short, he got it!!! It actually didn't take that long either. He was so proud of himself too! Oh, and he does this new thing where he twists his tongue and chews on it when he gets excited! He was of course doing it!

This seems like such a small thing to be thrilled about, a kid being able to put sweet potato puffs in his mouth. But there's a bigger picture here... A lesson to be learned. One thing I've had to work on as a mom is that I can't run to Isaac every time he struggles! It's hard to watch my baby get frustrated and even cry after getting a red mark on his forehead from falling down , but it's all part of the learning process. I see it as an example of our Father/child relationship with God. He to doesn't like to see his children struggle or get hurt, yet sometimes he also has to sit on his hands so that we can figure out how to get back up after we've fallen.

So this has turned out to be a lot longer than I expected. My intention was to post a few pictures, write a little paragraph, and be done. I guess God needed to teach me a few important things on parenting!

Good night!

2 comments:

Nicole Leonard said...

Such motherhood wisdom! :)

I remember being so excited when Kait was just a few months old and she started reaching for the toys hanging from the handle on her car seat. :) I was telling Micah, "Look!! She's reaching for it!" As if it were the most miraculous thing in the world. LOL!

I know everyone parents differently because no child is the same. With that said, we decided to do the "cry-it-out" method with Kait (after lots of trial & error) to get her to sleep when she was about 6 months old. That was a tough one. But we knew that she needed to learn to sleep on her own without the help of us all the time. So after about a week of crying herself to sleep, she learned to self-soothe and we've been putting her to bed while she's awake ever since! It made for a happier baby and happier parents. :)

travis and hayley said...

he is sooo cute... i love reading your blog;)