Its just my opinion.... growing up too soon!

I wrote this about 6 months ago. I guess I just forgot to post it :) My son is now in a toddler bed but I still liked the post. :)

My little boy is three and he still sleeps in his crib. Its not that I am against moving him to his big boy bed. Really. Its that he has never, not even one time, tried to get out. My little man doesn't like change and is happy as a clam to just call out " mama" when he would like to get up.


I have asked him several times over the last year if he wanted a "big boy bed". Each time he giggled, smiled and said nooooooo. That was just fine with me! I would gladly pack up his crib when he went away to college. I am sure his roommate wouldn't mind. It doesn't take up much room.


I recently had a friend who was determined to take away the binky before her little one turned 3. I asked "why?" She got a blank stare on her face and said because it was time. Whose time? Our kids get attached to little comfort items that do just that... comfort. I can totally understand if it was affecting her speech or teeth or you didn't want her walking around "plugged up" all day. This is just one mamas opinion, but what would it hurt to give it to her at nighttime? Have you ever seen a college graduate with a binky on a chain? They get rid of it when they are ready.


You see I am all about letting them be little when they are little. Because one day you will wake up and they won't be any longer. I don't rush my little ones to pronounce words correctly. ( I ask them to say it again and again b/c its so cute that I bend over in a fit of giggles.) Or to be more grown up then they need to be ( I am big on manners- make no mistake) or push them to learn more than they need to be learning at this point. I feel like in our quest to raise the most smart, athletic, grown up children we have somehow taken away some of the fun of just being little. I would rather see my little prince pretending and being creative than trying to learn skills that are 3 grades ahead of him. Because he will learn them and he won't want to rescue his mama (the queen, of course) from the tower any more.


One day, sooner rather than later, they will pronounce all their words correctly, know the periodical table and would rather spend the Friday family night in their room than with their family. It makes me sad.


So I will cherish the mud pies, gooey kisses, "Play with me mama's", bear hugs (complete with grrrrrrr's), mispronounced words, dancing wildly in the living room and collapsing in a fit of giggles, and sleeping in a crib as long as my little man wants to! He will be ready when he is ready and not a minute sooner. I am not about to mess with his time table.


Now... I have a tea party to attend with my 1 and 3 year old. Rumor has it that this is the most hoppin joint in town and I have reservations. Complete with a crib in the room, binky in my daughters mouth and a stinky, used to be green frog, on the chair beside me. And I wouldn't have it any other way!