Menu: Parenting
Navigating Life with a 4-Month-Old Tyrant
By Jenna Caldwell
Updated: Dec. 3, 2020
Originally Published: April 6, 2016
The flu, a stomach bug, or whatever you want to label it—I had it. Nausea was hitting me hard, and let’s just say every time I stood up, I regretted it. Guess who didn’t care about my suffering and decided that tonight was the perfect night to wake up every couple of hours, wailing for a bottle? That’s right: my 4-month-old son. Why? Because, let’s face it, he’s a bit of a tyrant. In that moment of frustration, I whispered sternly, “Go to sleep.”
Why? Because I was feeling a bit like a tyrant myself. It was just another night in this whirlwind of parenting, where I found myself rocking him back to sleep, tears streaming down my face—not from the joy of motherhood, but from sheer exhaustion. Who wishes their own child out of existence? I pondered. Only parents who are at their wit’s end.
Finally, after we all recovered and returned to normalcy, the little one decided that the only time he would not cry was when he was held upright on our laps, bouncing on his chubby little legs. You know how great a 20-pound bouncing baby is for building arm strength? Maybe he was just trying to be considerate! A considerate tyrant.
For three days, we took turns holding him up under his arms, just high enough for him to bounce until he was too tired to resist being placed in his swing for a brief nap. That’s right—our little one only napped in his swing, thank goodness for the gift from wise friends at the baby shower. They’re definitely not tyrants.
With our arms sore from the repetitive exercise, my husband and I decided it was time to invest in a Jumperoo. The choices were endless, and as we stood in the store, experienced parents shared knowing smiles, recognizing our desperation. We finally chose one that played classical music—$100 later, we were driving home, hopeful that this new gadget would free us up to, you know, do chores or perhaps sneak a drink on the patio.
Once we set up the Jumperoo, we placed our little one inside, ready for him to bounce. What did he do? He smiled for five seconds and then burst into a furious scream, flailing his arms at the cheerful toys. We left him to cry for a bit because, well, sometimes you just have to roll with it.
After all, there’s nothing like hearing your child scream in frustration at an inanimate object—because, let’s face it, he’s a tyrant. “It’s okay to hate that Jumperoo, little one,” I thought. “We only spent money we don’t have on it while struggling to keep up with all the other expenses of parenting.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
The next day, I tried the Jumperoo again, holding my breath in the hopes he would embrace it. Babies have this strange knack for loving something one day and despising it the next. He grabbed at the sunflower toy, pulling it toward his mouth in frustration. Of course, it didn’t budge, and he responded with a furious punch. I couldn’t help but laugh; this was just the first of many disappointments he would face in life.
As I watched my little tyrant wrestle with that stubborn sunflower, I felt a sense of relief. It’s okay to feel frustrated and worn out. We all have our struggles, and none of us are immune to life’s inevitable challenges. Tomorrow is always a new day to try again, or simply to let things go.
I picked him up, and he wrapped his tiny arms around my neck, resting his face against mine. “There, there, little tyrant. Your mom’s a bit of a tyrant too.” And in that moment, I knew we would be alright.
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Summary:
Parenting a 4-month-old can be a humorous and exhausting journey. Faced with sleepless nights and the challenges of keeping a little one entertained, parents often find themselves in comical situations. The frustrations of dealing with a crying baby and the constant ebb and flow of preferences in toys serve as a reminder of the trials and joys of parenthood. Embracing the chaos and understanding that both parents and children can have their moments of being “tyrants” brings a sense of camaraderie and acceptance in this shared experience.
Keyphrase: life with a 4-month-old
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