“I can’t get used to those kids doing the weirdest antics”
Sanne is known for her sketch videos on her Instagram channel @laviesanne. She is the mother of James (8), Isé (5) and Amélie (1).
When I put my head above the laptop, I see how my toddler moves with her shaky steps from the ottoman to the coffee table. My heart rate rises when I see her swabbing like this, but I have to have a little faith.
Just as I turn my gaze back to my mailbox, I hear a loud ‘boink’. Yes, there she is lying on her snout. Her forehead has another bump richer. I have a heart attack myself. When I comfort her a little later with a hug and a box of raisins, I think about how quiet the phase actually was when she was still simmering on her back in the box. At least I could get something done without the chaos breaking out right away.
Shenanigans
I think one year is a nice age, but I can’t get used to the fact that those kids do the weirdest antics. They throw themselves unceremoniously off the couch, quickly put their fingers in everything and scramble on everything that is loose and stuck.
And then that oral phase where they put I don’t know what little grubs in their mouths; I am terrified every day. The fact that I may have watched too many videos of doctors telling what small children could possibly choke on certainly doesn’t help my state of mind either.
Read also – 9 ways to make your home safe for children >
The next accident
My husband can handle it better; it seems strong to him that she just chokes on something and in terms of falls he always coolly shouts that they learn to estimate when something is possible or not. I really do my best to be as nonchalant as he is, but the moment I loosen the reins for a while, then, hoppa, the next accident is already there.
“That cost me another ten years of my life”
Last week, for example, I thought I’d unload the dishwasher while Amélie was playing with the rack. After all, what could happen, I was right next to it. Yet she managed to fly forward in an instant with the rack and all and land with her nose on a protruding peg. That was another ten years of my life.
I’m always happy when I can put her in the baby carrier for fifteen minutes while taking the oldest two to school. Nice and close to me. But more importantly, at least she can’t go anywhere for a while.
This article appears in Kek Mama 05-2023, available in stores from 2 May.
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