Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Exasperated by DD's insatiable curiosity

Am I the only one who feels completely frazzled by the awesome task of keeping up with my DD? I observe children whereever we go and on only three occasions in 2 years have I met other parents who "get" the demands of the intensely curious child with limitless energy.

If we are not doing something to feed her mind or exercise her body, she is squirmy or downright impossible.

I see other parents say, "Wait here," or "Sit here," and see children doing just that, and I even see children riding in the shopping carts and strollers without trying to stand up (gasp! what a concept!). What I don't see are other 22 m.o. toddlers trotting away from their moms to push the elevator button and get on and say, "Bye bye Mama!"

I'm doing my best to keep a step ahead of her and to cultivate her interests. Her attention span is quite long (90 minutes at age 10 months), but finding exactly what it is that will occupy her for long periods is exhausting me.

The good news is DD is very social, very physical, loves stimulation, is not sensitive to noises or crowds, and loves new experiences. If we could move to a new house every other week she'd be thrilled.

I admit I feel people are looking at me thinking, "That woman has an out of control child. She must be a bad mom."

I think I just need a pep talk.

I hear you. It is exhausing. Sounds like our DD4 at that age. From the time she was a baby it has never stopped. When she finds something she likes its all encompassing. If I dream about magic tree house one more time I am going to scream. Hang in there, you are a good mom and it is an amazing but hectic ride.

Oh yes! I used to go to Mom's clubs when my first baby was young. All the other mothers could sit and chat, but I had to follow my child around, as he was always the one crawling over to investigate houseplants or pulling piles of books off the shelves. I felt like such an oddball.

Don't fret. It gets easier as they get older.

BTDT. I even bought an indoor swing that fit in the door jamb in the house, so on rainy days, dd(7) had some where to get stimulation/exercise. We didn't have a formak dining room in the early years, it was a toy/book/puzzle explosion!

It was a great location so I could keep an eye on her from just about everywhere in the house.

When we went out, I was one of those mothers that got stares because I used a harness (leash type thing) so she could run and I still had a hand on her.

I think the key is understanding her need for stimulation and then deciding how to provide it safely. As for what other people think when they see how you deal with your child, forget about it!

Learn to laugh it off! It does get better as they get older.

kcab - i'm with you. When does it get better!? My DS is only in pt preschool, and lately we've been having these awful public tantrums (so nice of him to save it for public).

And Lorel - i had forgotten all about the chasing the child around stage while all the other moms in the early childhood class sat in one spot and chatted. I used to be sooooo jealous of mom's whose kids would sit in front of them and happily play with a toy.

Actually, for the most part the exhausting stuff has subsided. There are just the rare spurts of exhaustion-causing behavior compared to the constant of toddlerhood. (Although i do get "ear" exhaustion sometimes from the continuous talk.)

I was probably one of the people staring, but only out of envy. I always thought those harnesses were genius!

I remember that before i had kids, i thought the leashes were horrible. After I had DS, I thought they were a great idea. But then when DS was 2, we saw a kid with one, and I thought to myself "hmmm, i should get one of those" and DS said aloud "Look! That kid is on a leash!" and he laughed one of those pure joy little kid laughs. (He wasn't laughing at the kid, he just thought the idea of it was so funny.) Then I figured I couldn't get one. Maybe I should rethink it - we're still having "invincible kid" problems when it comes to traffic. DS just does not pay attention. I recently said "it's my job to keep you safe" and he replied "it's my job to try not to be safe." He is now getting automatic consequences if he doesn't act safely around streets.

Ooh! I'd be tempted to say "Then it's your job to die very, very young!"

How scary for you!

Oh, believe me, some of the things I say would have social services coming to visit if anyone heard! And I am always on the lookout for dead creatures in the road to show to DS. But at least automatic consequences, with no chance to earn them back, seem to be working.

My DS4 was mobile early but he listened, so if i said 'don't touch' he never touched. I remember going to a church mum+tot group once when he was around 9/10 months and cruising and the leader asking me 'can you make him just sit down?' Now at 4 he walks nicely, held my hand etc.

My DD23m is a nightmare! I'm ashamed to admit she rarely is out of the pushchair because she won't hold a hand, won't wear one of those harness things (sit on the floor and doesn't move), does not listen to any instructions (not that i really expect her to at nearly 2, but in comparison to DS). She would be the child riding the elevator alone if i let her 'roam free'. Thats not to say anything against you Sea Blue - just that i understand.

but finding exactly what it is that will occupy her for long periods is exhausting me.
I have this problem with DD too, She can find 3 random toys and play from 9-3 with them but if i find her something she isn't interested.

I know a child like DD, a girl who is 4, at 2.5/3 she would get a stool, take it to the front door, undo the 3 bolts (they'd added 2 because of her!), go downstairs (in a block of flats) and knock on her friends door at 6am. Her mum was asleep the whole time. Sad thing is i think she is probably gifted but her mum once said to me 'i can't wait till she is 5 so i can put her on Ritalin'....