Is it ok to be a teeny bit jealous of my friend whose 21 month old DS behaves like an angel??

[ceebee74]

I have a 20 month old who is just a complete bundle of energy - constantly running around, playing with about 5 different toys at once. He hates being strapped in a highchair so eating out is hard work, he runs off unless he is either in your arms, in the pushchair or on his reins.

My friend has a 21 month old - she can sit in restaurants for 2 hours at a time and her DS doesn't bother, she can let him out of his pushchair in the town centre and he doesn't run off.

If me and DH take my DS swimming, we have to get ready in shifts and hand DS over to each other whilst the other one gets ready as DS just runs around the changing rooms and either back into the pool or into the main gym - my friend's DS just stays put and doesn't run anywhere.

Grrrrrr - it must be SO much easier parenting a child like that.

'fraid some children are just like that, my first dd was just like that but dd2 hmmmm sounds far more like your ds!

I've had 3 bundles of energy, and have had many moments with friends DC who sit still for long periods in public.

she must drug him or something?

Oh don't worry. Her next one will probably be the exact opposite.

I have one 2.4 yo who says to me 'mummy, please move that knife/razor/glass bottle away from me so that I don't touch it' (hmm), and sleeps like a dream, and one insomniac godzilla child.

They're both fantastic .

It's the intelligent ones that are more active

That's what I tell myself, anyway.

Yours is obviously more intelligent

some are just like that - but on the other hand to the outside world my DS may appear like that (can take him to a cafe or restaurant etc and he's good as gold. on trains etc etc, but get him back in the door when it's just me and him and OMG he can be a GREMLIN!!!

tip on the swimming bit - get him ready first, (dressed) then give him a snack & drink should be long enough for you and H to get dressed quickly. if you can take your push chair in as well!

Your child has drive and ambition

My DD1 was an angel. Took her anywhere with me and she was the easiest child to parent. It was an absolute joy!!!All the Mums at mother and toddler etcerea hated me for it. Mother nature has now got her revenge. 2nd DD is an absolute ball of energy, cannot let her out of my sight ever!! It feels like I am a complete novice now to parenting because I had it so easy first time round...I am now jealous of other Mums with well behaved children.

Well I will definintely go with the more intelligent

I don't think my friend has any intention of having any more children so she will never experience the other side of parenting

Well I will definintely go with the more intelligent

I don't think my friend has any intention of having any more children so she will never experience the other side of parenting

See that is what happens when you try and MN whist having a 'bundle of energy' sat on your lap

Yes while posting my message, my darling monster was busy in the kitchen moving a chair right next to the oven which was on boiling some water...Narrowly avoided a nasty accident but this is an everyday occurrence with her. Gotta love them though!!

She may not have another one, but this one may change... My friend's child who was angelic at the age was considerably less angelic 5 years later... And then there are the teens to come...

Oh it is always ok to be jealous.

Wait for the angel to get older - my dd was easy at 21 months and a lot harder at 5.

And I have friends whose children sit with them the whole time, which does make things easier when they are toddlers. But a bloody nightmare when you want them to go to nursery and they still want to just sit with mummy (I don't see mine for dust at that point).

And if you're going to have an "easy" child, best not to have it first. Much more useful to have an easy second baby. (Whatever "easy" is).

Ds was like that. Now he is 23mths he is a bit better. We still have to time meals out very carefully, serve yourself buffets are a favourite, and make sure not to let him anywhere near automatic doors - last week he sprinted out of thelibrary and was half way across the field before I caught up with him. Still at least he is not tantrummy and sleeps well which is very very important to me, probably tired himself out with all his running around.

bil & sil have an angel 18mth-old like that. Now she is up and walking around etc but they haven't had to move any vases/plants/candles/knickknacks because (we have been informed) she is intelligent and knows not to touch things

I like to think that my nightmare into-everything bundle of energy ds2 is intelligent by being interested in touching anything and everything.

Still,

Your DS sounds like an intrepid adventurer, with an enquiring mind.

He will go far.

Her's maybe easier but much more dull

I think my 2 are somewhere inbetween- they certainly don't sit very well in cafe's/restaurants- have been told not to let them run around before when we were having a pub lunch!

My 20mth old has been emptying my tupperware drawer in the kitchen while I've been on MN. She is now wandering around with the phone saying, 'hayo, yes, dodi da dada, hayo' etc!

I would 2nd the snacks for swimming. Get them ready then give snack while you get ready. Afterwards I would dry him, put on t-shirt, then give him drink and snack while you change then do rest of ds after! I haven't worked out how to do it with a 2 and 1 yr old yet though!

DS2 was the model baby at 21 months. We went around the world with him and his brother at this age - he would eat anything and sleep anywhere. I remember posting on my blog about how amazed me and DH were at the kids' adaptability.

Fastforward - 18 months later. DS2 is non-stop, a total whirlwind who never, ever stops talking or moving.

Snooks - they have not had to move anything really?

Rookie - that is exactly what I mean about meals out - me and DH used to love going out for meals but now we have to go when we know it will be really quiet (so we get served quickly) or, as you say, 'help yourself buffets' - so needless to say we don't go out much anymore! Totally agree about the sleeping though - DS is and always has been a fantastic sleeper which does more than make up for it

Thanks for the tips about swimming - unfortunately the 'snack and drink' don't work with DS as he just runs off with them in his hand - it is not helped by the fact that the gym changing rooms don't actually have doors so I can't just let him run around.

Taweret - that is exactly what DH says - he is just exploring and that is a good thing

My dd is just like this and saw a paed at wkd as was not well and she said she was very advanced for her age sot here you go-hyper child =intelligent

ceebee - yes, apparently! And she sleeps like a dream (has done since practically birth), NEVER has a tantrum (yet) and doesn't even get angsty when she's tired. Oh, and eats everything too.

I am quite as to whether all of the above is true, but mostly