Parenting
By Jamie Collins
Updated: April 7, 2021
Originally Published: September 10, 2017
I have a 3-year-old named Mia, who we affectionately refer to as our little tornado. With her tousled blonde hair and mischievous grin, it’s as if we have a high-energy creature zooming around our home on a caffeine rush. Mia’s energy is boundless; she runs faster than an Olympic sprinter and has an insatiable curiosity that often leads to chaos.
Let’s be honest—she can be quite the handful. Just a few months back, I found her with a permanent marker in hand, enthusiastically giving our living room wall a makeover. After a struggle worthy of a superhero movie, I managed to wrest the marker away from her. But in the blink of an eye, she had grabbed a toy stroller and was charging at our TV! I quickly intervened, only for her to dart off to her next adventure.
Don’t get me wrong, I adore Mia. She brings so much joy and excitement to my life as a father of three. Yet, I often find myself utterly exhausted. She rises with the sun, battles bedtime, and throughout the day, I feel like I’m extinguishing one fire after another. This has been our reality since she began walking.
To prevent one of us from completely losing our sanity, my partner and I take turns managing our lively little one. After two years of this whirlwind, I’m running on fumes. It seems like there’s no end in sight when you’re caring for an endlessly curious 3-year-old who has outgrown naps. I’m sure many parents can relate to the overwhelming dread of feeling like they’ll be chasing after their spirited child forever.
But I’m here to share a glimmer of hope. It’s beginning to happen. Or at least, I think it is.
Recently, Mia has started to hold still—just a bit. A few weeks ago, while my partner was out shopping with our older children, I noticed something unusual. Mia pulled out a Peppa Pig Lego set that had previously been ignored. To my surprise, she began assembling the blocks on her own, sitting contentedly for almost 20 minutes!
It was a stunning moment of calm. I sat on the floor, marveling at her small hands as they focused intently on the task. This kind of concentration was new; usually, she was all about curiosity and movement, which left me anxious about potential destruction. After what felt like an eternity of chasing her around, seeing her focus was as refreshing as a long nap. It felt like a sip of cool water on a hot day. It sparked a hope that maybe, just maybe, I could eventually relax on the sofa without worrying about her tossing her tablet into the toilet.
If you have a calm child, you might not fully grasp why this was such a significant moment, but if you’re in the same boat with a rambunctious little one, you know exactly what I mean.
In the weeks following the Lego miracle, Mia started watching entire episodes of cartoons without losing interest or getting into mischief. She even sat at the table for meals without trying to escape!
Of course, we’re not completely out of the woods yet. Just last Sunday, she made a dash for the church organ during a service, and I barely stopped her from unleashing a cacophony on the keys.
But my sense of hope continues to grow. So if you’re a parent of a high-energy, restless child who demands constant attention, take heart. There is light at the end of the tunnel. They will gradually settle down.
You’ve probably heard this before, just as I have. In the thick of it, it’s easy to think, “Yeah, right. You don’t know my kid.” But change does come, little by little, and it’s truly one of the most rewarding experiences of parenting.
There’s so much to love about having a spirited child like Mia, and while I wouldn’t change her for the world, I do look forward to the day when I can sit down and enjoy a moment of peace.
So keep your eyes on that energetic little one. Keep redirecting, keep loving, and trust that it will all come together eventually. One day, we’ll be lounging on the sofa again, able to focus on the things we need to do. It will happen—believe me.
For those interested in learning more about home insemination, check out this excellent resource from WebMD on different treatment options. And if you’re curious about our other blog posts related to home insemination kits, you can find some great information here.
Summary: This article shares a heartfelt journey of parenting a spirited 3-year-old named Mia, who embodies boundless energy and curiosity. After a whirlwind of chaos, the author finds hope as Mia begins to exhibit moments of calm and focus. The piece highlights the exhaustion parents feel while caring for active children, yet reassures them that there is light at the end of the tunnel as their children gradually settle down.
Keyphrase: parenting a spirited child
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]