My Dinosaur

As soon as we walked in the door to our first class of Kindermusik, Camdyn clung to me and whimpered.  She gets very nervous in new situations with people she doesn't know.  I was looking forward to the class as a chance to get out of the house and also as an amusement for Cam.  This morning, I spent my time "relaxing" at coffee by chasing Camdyn around the shopping plaza and blocking her from running into the street.  She is so independent already and wants to do things her own way.  Our coffee trip ended with me carrying Camdyn to the car, crying because I didn't let walk to the mailboxes in the back of the Seattle Espresso for the umpteenth time.

We walked into our classroom at the Chandler Community Center and were greeted with other toddlers running around.  I met a mom, Laura, at the door who had a 4-year old girl and and 2 and 1/2 year old girl.  I confessed to her that I am scared to have another child, just because of the amount of work involved.  After giving me an odd look, she told me that its easier because you then have a built-in playmate.  Yes, I've heard this line before and see how it can be true.  The point I'm fixated on is having both a newborn and a toddler at the same time.  That sounds like a scenario in a horror movie to me.

For the first twenty minutes, Camdyn cuddled next to me while singing the songs and clapping along to the music.  I was so proud to see her get off my lap and put away an egg shaker we were playing with.  She was a little intimidated at first by all the other children.  In the middle of class, she was swaying in time to all the songs.  After each song finished, she clapped and squealed. 


Then, I could tell she was getting tired.  She came up to me while I was sitting on the floor and just slapped me right in the face.  I looked at her in shock.  Then, she slapped me again.  I asked (and I should really stop asking) if she needed a time-out.  A slow smile spread across her face and she nodded her head, "yes."  What is it with this kid liking time-outs?   We went outside the classroom door and Cam stood in the corner for a minute.  I am always amazed how well time-outs work because when Cam came back in, she was all sunshine and smiles.

I read a book to Camdyn recently called "How do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?" by Jane Yolen.  The book is illustrated with dinosaurs as the children.  The story is the perfect metaphor for what it is like to be the parent of a toddler:

"Out in the Sandbox

you threw lots of sand.

You ran from the slide

after slapping my hand.

But you suddenly turned

with a smile I adore. 

Oh, I'll always love you 

my dinosaur."

 Camdyn is my dinosaur.