Come, Mommy

Dear Kieran,

It is impossible that you have been with us for two years now. I swear you were just born last summer, but no, that can’t be right. After all, Liam hadn’t even started nursery school when you were born, and now he is in kindergarten. You have grown rapidly into a tall little boy who still looks a lot like a baby. One moment you are nursing, the next throwing a temper tantrum, and then you’re right back into showing your beloved Yee-Yee and Casey the new drum set you’ve made from Tupperware.

Through the course of any given day I see several children who all look like you but who have very different temperaments and different play things and activities. Of course, there is only one Kiri here, but you have so many contrasting sides that sometimes you make me dizzy. The age of 2 seems to be the year of contrasts for many children, and you, my dear Kieran, are right there with that description.

You love to cuddle and hug, you love to run away from Mommy in the store.

You love to eat, but what you will eat is a different story each day.

You scream loudly enough to wake the hibernating bears, and then, when you see Casey flopped on the floor napping, you put your finger to your lips and whisper, “Sssshhhhhh!!! Casey sweeping!”

You’ll throw a tantrum to get things your way, but all the while you’ve got one eye open to make sure Daddy and I aren’t getting mad.

You love to play with trains and trucks and dolls and gnomes.

All toys are kissed sweetly before being whacked with a hammer.

You love to hug Liam, and sometimes you love to hit him.

(Sometimes Liam loves you, and sometimes he loves to think about hitting you.)

You love to fingerpaint with mud, and you love to use use tiny brushes to paint delicate ovals on paper.

You ask for a fork, then use your fingers to put the food on it.

You run around like a crazy elf, smashing into walls and corners, but you pet the ferrets ever so gently.

You answer “No!” to every question. It takes you five seconds or more to realize you really should have said “Yes!”

(Please remember, son, that there is no imaginable circumstance under which the answer to the question “Do you like ice cream?” is “No!”)

If you even suspect someone is thinking about taking whatever is in your hand away, you yell “Mine!” loudly enough to rattle the windows. But if you try to hand something to someone and your offer is not immediately accepted, you burst into tears.

Life is very confusing and every event is huge and every emotion is loudly proclaimed, and that’s why 2 is such a big and exciting year, Kiri. I hope you have an amazing time being 2. I know this year will be amazing for your Daddy and me.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Terrific Two!

Love,

Mommy