Just before the holidays, my almost-3-year-old daughter began a new phase.
A phase we affectionately called the “scream and throw a tantrum at the first sign of frustration to get her own way or for no reason at all” phase.
It was adorable, as you can imagine.
It seemed to come out of the blue
Upon second thought, I thought of more than a few symptoms that should have tipped me off:
- Usually the independent type, my daughter began having separation fits when I would leave her at day care — a place she usually begged to go.
- She became a picky eater instead of trying anything and everything, as per her MO.
- Instead of attempting to explain something with her immense vocabulary, she would quickly resort to crying and baby talk.
- She always wanted to be held and didn’t resist sitting in the grocery cart rather than her usual preference to do everything “on her own self.”
- She fell asleep on my lap before her usual bedtime or even sometimes during the day.
Looking back, I feel so dense and guilty that I didn't put two and two together and realize that my girl was sicker than sick. These aren't crazy, unique symptoms or surprising indications of a child not feeling her best, but it seems I got too caught up in the other part of motherhood — the busyness of dishes and laundry and pickups and drop-offs and nightly homework and cooking dinner — to notice what my baby was trying to tell me.
All she needed was for her mom to tune into her clues and give her some love and cuddles (and maybe a trip to the pediatrician). I missed it this time, but you better bet your bottom that I won’t let that happen again.
