So Long 2012, You Were Awesome

A scratch-free 2013 to you all!

Cal is down for his last morning nap of 2012 and the sound of fireworks, like doors being slammed all across the city, thankfully hasn’t woken him. When he wakes up we’ll have ‘second breakfast’ and then start collecting the shopping we’ll need to survive January 1^st, the coldest, dullest, no-shopping-est day of the year. Bon-bons and cheese for tonight’s dinner upstairs with our neighbours and something delicious to ease possibly sore heads and fill the house with warmth tomorrow.

I’ve never really been one for New Year’s resolutions and this year less than ever. The ongoing balance of sleeping, eating, working and eking out time for writing, and time for David and I to be together, continues. I think we’re doing a good job, but we both feel the frustration of never being able to fully immerse ourselves in work, creativity, each other like we used to. Sometimes when Cal is asleep we just lie on the couch and have a good bitch about how annoying it all is. ‘Better out than in,’ is our family motto and it feels good to vent, to say terrible, ugly things about parenthood that we’re glad nobody else can hear.

I wonder will it get easier or harder this year. I have a hope that when he can walk it will be easier for us. I know we’ll be chasing him around all day, but at the moment the fact that he still can’t walk, crawl, or scoot anywhere without our assistance is exhausting and frustrating for all of us. He has a walker which he likes, up to a point, but he’s becoming such a little scientist and wants to spend all day poking his fingers into new nooks and crannies and opening and shutting doors that can only really be accessed by using his human-walking-machine, AKA mum or dad.

We meet other parents with 2 year olds who walk, jump and make single word demands like Elmo! And Up! And we can barely believe that that’s what Cal will be this time next year. I think (hope) language will come easier to him than moving. This morning I asked him to wave bye-bye, without doing the action myself and he did – waving his chubby little hand while looking around with curiosity at who might be leaving. It was the first incontestable proof that he understood what I said and made me outrageously proud.

So I guess my New Year’s Resolutions are for him. That whether he walks or not, he continues to be the relaxed, funny, happy, comprehending little dude that he is. And that we can keep being the best parents we can for him. Have happy and safe New Year’s eves and if you’ve read all the way down to here, thanks.