I think Simon is getting bored

posted by Jeff | Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 4:25 PM | comments: 0

Maybe it's just because I'm getting to spend some time with him at home, but it seems like Simon is kind of bored since we moved to Cleveland. The weather has been kind of rainy on and off, and when it rains here, it means business, unlike the misty Seattle stuff. So the long and short of it is that he's been kind of constrained to the house.

I know I'm over-thinking it, but I feel like moving was the wrong thing for him. He was an outdoor kid in Snoqualmie, walking pretty much every day to one of a half-dozen playgrounds within a few blocks from our place. The kid loved getting out, and we loved getting out with him. We don't have the same places to go, with the wide sidewalks and all here. Granted, November in Seattle would have been super crappy anyway, so he'd probably have a similar issue.

Diana has also witnessed that when he sees backyard playsets, he thinks they're playgrounds and has a fit when he can't go to them. This is something I really hate about the McMansion Midwest subdivision culture, where everyone has their little kingdoms. Granted, I do live in a nice neighborhood with some nice common areas, but still.

Indoors, he's getting bored with his toys. He loves his Ikea abacus, but favorites like the ring toys, his little people airplane and his kitchen aren't getting much love. It isn't all bad though, because he routinely will go to the downstairs room, where all of his stuff is, and play after dinner, mostly independently. That's good, because independent playing is something he isn't always into. He really wants us involved.

The other weird thing is he's actively asking to watch TV. Diana puts in one of his Baby Einstein videos while she showers, and we'll watch 20 minutes or so of Sesame Street at night for wind-down, but we typically avoid TV when he's awake. We just don't want him sitting around passively watching stuff. I'm sure this concern is rooted in his reluctance to use words right now.

I'm sure we're just being parents. He's such a sweet little kid. I really treasure every minute I get to spend with him. I feel like the luckiest parent in the world.


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