I’m So Jealous
By
on
June 16th, 2008
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I've realized that I'm mildly jealous of parents and their calm babies after having endured almost two years with my Energizer Bunny daughter. I'm jealous seeing a baby lay in the stroller looking at the clouds for an hour without a sound. I love the little babies who can be carried by anyone, close friend or stranger, without complaining loudly. People sometimes wonder what I mean by a challenging child, how active and difficult can a cute little girl be? Imagine two wild twin boys who won't stay still. Double, or perhaps triple, that and you've got my daughter. I've spending some time this summer playing professional tennis in Germany and some of my teammates have kids. Babies that wouldn't dream of complaining about anything. My friends often catch me staring at the little ones and wonder what's wrong. That's when I confess my jealousy, grab a calm baby, and walk around with a drooling infant on my shoulder. It's amazing how big of a difference a calm baby makes. No nagging, no sleep issues, no complaining, get along with everyone, and love to lay down and just observe everything from a distance. Those things decide whether a parent is going crazy and can't imagine another baby or love every moment and can't wait to get a pregnant again. The tennis club in my German town is a busy meeting spot for practice but also for events such as watching the current European Championships is soccer. After some drinks I'm often drawn to one of my friends and her baby. He's just incredibly nice. While the others are pounding drinks at the bar I grab Len and walk around with him on my shoulder or in my arms for an hour. People know I'm an involved father who enjoy kids but they still find it curious that I voluntarily take care of other peoples children. My now 4-year old son was quite calm but my daughter has been a handful to put it mildly. As a baby she never laid down in her carriage more than 10 seconds without complaining. She didn't want to be carried, didn't enjoy snuggling, and was restless and cranky from day one. She was healthy, except for some colic and acid reflux, but always liked to complain. I think a parent shouldn't complain too much about a healthy child, no matter how difficult. There are many with serious problems who face far greater challenges. I complain a little bit but I also know we're lucky to have two healthy kids. Carrying around a calm and peaceful baby might just be my way of experiencing a little piece of quiet and relaxation with an infant. Something that certainly never happened with my daughter. So I admit it, I'm jealous of all those calm, quiet, and patient babies. The ones who stare at the trees for an hour with curious eyes. The ones who sit harnessed in the carriage, completely at ease, while daddy is talking to a friend. And the babies who find it completely natural falling asleep in anyones arms. My daughter Annika is coming around. Believe it or not, she's a little calmer at 22 months although she seems to wear out almost anyone except her parents. If life was fair, she would grow up and become the most trouble free little girl in the world. I'm still hoping for that but I realize it's probably a dream. I'm at least hoping she will say "No!" as often to teenage boys as she does to Daddy when she grows up. Is that really too much to ask for?
I’m So Jealous
By
on
November 30th, 1999
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I've realized that I'm mildly jealous of parents with calm babies after having endured almost two years with my Energizer Bunny daughter. I'm jealous seeing a baby lay in the stroller looking at the clouds for an hour without a sound. I love the little babies who can be carried by anyone, close friend or stranger, without complaining loudly. People sometimes wonder what I mean by a challenging baby, how active and difficult can a cute little girl be? Imagine two wild twin boys who won't stay still. Double, or perhaps triple, that and you've got my daughter. I've spending some time this summer playing professional tennis in Germany and some of my teammates have kids. Babies that wouldn't dream of complaining about anything. My friends often catch me staring at the little ones and wonder what's wrong. That's when I confess my jealousy, grab a calm baby, and walk around with a drooling infant on my shoulder. It's amazing how big of a difference a calm baby makes. No nagging, no sleep issues, no complaining, get along with everyone, and love to lay down and just observe everything from a distance. Those things decide whether a parent is going crazy and can' imagine another baby or love every moment and can't wait to get a pregnant again. The tennis club in my German town is a busy meeting spot for practice but also for events such as watching the current European Championships in soccer. After some drinks I'm often drawn to one of my friends and her baby. He's just incredibly nice. While the others are pounding drinks at the bar I grab Len and walk around with him on my shoulder or in my arms for an hour. People know I'm an involved father who enjoy kids but they still find it curious that I voluntarily take care of other peoples children. My now 4-year old son was quite calm but my daughter has been a handful to put it mildly. As a baby she never laid down in her carriage more than 10 seconds without complaining. She didn't want to be carried, didn't enjoy snuggling, and was restless and cranky from day one. She was healthy, except for some colic and acid reflux, but always liked to show off her will. I think a parent shouldn't complain too much about a healthy child, no matter how difficult. There are many with serious problems who face far greater challenges. I complain a little bit but I also know we're lucky to have two healthy kids. I love to see the contrast in babies. Carrying around a calm and peaceful baby might just be my way of experiencing a little piece of quiet and relaxation with an infant. Something that certainly never happened with my daughter. So I admit it, I'm jealous of all those calm, quiet, and patient babies. The ones who stare at the trees for an hour with curious eyes. The ones who sit harnessed in the carriage, completely at ease, while daddy is talking to a friend. And the babies who find it completely natural falling asleep in anyones arms. My daughter Annika is coming around. Believe it or not, she's a little calmer at 22 months although she seems to wear out almost anyone except her parents who are used to her madness. If life was fair, she would grow up and become the most trouble free little girl in the world. I'm still hoping for that but I realize it's probably a dream. I'm at least hoping she will say "No!" as often to teenage boys as she does to Daddy when she grows up. Is that really too much to ask for?
I’m So Jealous
By
on
November 30th, 1999
Print This Post
Email This Post
I’ve realized that I’m mildly jealous of parents with calm babies after having endured almost two years with my Energizer Bunny daughter. I’m jealous seeing a baby lay in the stroller looking at the clouds for an hour without a sound. I love the little babies who can be carried by anyone, close friend or stranger, without complaining loudly. People sometimes wonder what I mean by a challenging baby, how active and difficult can a cute little girl be? Imagine two wild twin boys who won’t stay still. Double, or perhaps triple, that and you’ve got my daughter. I’ve spending some time this summer playing professional tennis in Germany and some of my teammates have kids. Babies that wouldn’t dream of complaining about anything. My friends often catch me staring at the little ones and wonder what’s wrong. That’s when I confess my jealousy, grab a calm baby, and walk around with a drooling infant on my shoulder. It’s amazing how big of a difference a calm baby makes. No nagging, no sleep issues, no complaining, get along with everyone, and love to lay down and just observe everything from a distance. Those things decide whether a parent is going crazy and can’ imagine another baby or love every moment and can’t wait to get a pregnant again. The tennis club in my German town is a busy meeting spot for practice but also for events such as watching the current European Championships in soccer. After some drinks I’m often drawn to one of my friends and her baby. He’s just incredibly nice. While the others are pounding drinks at the bar I grab Len and walk around with him on my shoulder or in my arms for an hour. People know I’m an involved father who enjoy kids but they still find it curious that I voluntarily take care of other peoples children. My now 4-year old son was quite calm but my daughter has been a handful to put it mildly. As a baby she never laid down in her carriage more than 10 seconds without complaining. She didn’t want to be carried, didn’t enjoy snuggling, and was restless and cranky from day one. She was healthy, except for some colic and acid reflux, but always liked to show off her will. I think a parent shouldn’t complain too much about a healthy child, no matter how difficult. There are many with serious problems who face far greater challenges. I complain a little bit but I also know we’re lucky to have two healthy kids. I love to see the contrast in babies. Carrying around a calm and peaceful baby might just be my way of experiencing a little piece of quiet and relaxation with an infant. Something that certainly never happened with my daughter. So I admit it, I’m jealous of all those calm, quiet, and patient babies. The ones who stare at the trees for an hour with curious eyes. The ones who sit harnessed in the carriage, completely at ease, while daddy is talking to a friend. And the babies who find it completely natural falling asleep in anyones arms. My daughter Annika is coming around. Believe it or not, she’s a little calmer at 22 months although she seems to wear out almost anyone except her parents who are used to her madness. If life was fair, she would grow up and become the most trouble free little girl in the world. I’m still hoping for that but I realize it’s probably a dream. I’m at least hoping she will say “No!” as often to teenage boys as she does to Daddy when she grows up. Is that really too much to ask for?
I’m told that as a baby I was very similar to the way you describe your daughter. I was first born, and my mom said she had wanted four kids - until she had me! I have my own 3 month old baby now, and she is calm, inquisitive, will let anyone hold her, and sleeps longer than me at night. She is so wonderful that I want to have another child, but I fear that my good luck will run out. My hellcat genes will catch up with me eventually, I know it!
My son was very calm from about 0-3 months. I had to wake him up so he could eat at night, otherwise he’d let us all sleep! Then something changed and now I have to lay down with him every time he takes a nap! It’s frustrating sometimes but I’m so happy that he’s healthy.
I know I want more kids, but it’s a little daunting. What if I have TWO children that need all of my attention and are non-stop energizer bunnies? I know I’m young but I don’t know if I have that much energy!
Just realized our daughter’s have the same first name. Mine loves to watch golf to hear her name. She was actually named for Ms. Sorenstam.
My 3 year old is “spirited” too. (That’s my pediatrician’s word.) He was even kicked out of the hospital nursery on his birthday for crying so much and waking the sleeping newborns. That pretty much sums up his attitude ever since. I was at a loss for quite awhile but now realize I have become a Super Parent. Anyone can handle a sunny baby, but only Super Parents can handle energizer bunnies like ours. We are lucky. Now, where’s my cape? And vitamins?