Preview of An Empty Nest

Why do children grow up so fast? Not to sound too cliché, but I remember the day that little man was born. He didn't exactly come as planned but it was still a good day. Now I'm sitting here researching daycare and preschools to enroll him in. I may get a possible promotion at work and it will require me to change my hours, which will also require me to place my son in daycare. I've actually been wanting to do it for a while, I just could never get my husband on board because of the cost. Now that I have a good reason to do, with a possible substantial pay increase, my son and I finally get our chance to move on to the next step: Socialization.

Although my son loves to be around other people, he doesn't quite understand how to play with other kids. He also doesn't understand how he's going to need to defend himself when other kids are being mean.

*Digression Start* We went to a birthday party where there were plenty of children his age. There were plenty of toys around to play with but for some reason kids always want what they see someone else with. My son was playing with a toy when another kid his age came out of nowhere and snatch it from him and rode off with it. It was one of those toys that you can ride on. Nolan went to pursue the kid with the toy and the other kid pushed him to the ground. My little boy didn't understand what happened but I did. Without even thinking I grabbed the other kid's arm and strung him up telling him he shouldn't do that to other people. His mom or grandmother was standing right there but I didn't give a damn. NOBODY messes with my kid! Of course when he gets to be a teenager I promise I won't try to fight all his battles for him, but right now he's just a helpless little kid. *Digression End*

Kids are mean, and Nolan is going to learn this as he grows in life. I just hope he doesn't become jaded like I did. He's such a happy baby and I really want him to stay that way. I was a happy kid once too, but as I got older I realized how mean people can be and now I'm not much of a people person anymore. I don't want that to happen to him. SO, I want to get him into daycare as soon as possible. I want him to learn how to deal with people effectively at an early age. I know it's hard to explain the happenings in life to a child but I'm going to be there to do that no matter what it takes. Children needs explanations in life about why things happen.

I also want him to start talking more. He babbles most of the time (nonstop) now. I know he's going to be a talker but I want to hear the words come out of his mouth. I know boys talk later than girls but he's 20 months and I'm becoming a little worried about his speaking skills. I'm also taking into an account that he was a preemie and may start speaking later than usual. He hit a couple of his other milestones a little late as well. He's a very healthy and active boy other than that. I always look back on the picture of me holding him on my chest and look at him today. He's so much bigger now and I just feel so happy to have him.

Just a few weeks old.