Backing Off

As a parent I try really hard to be the best parent I can be. I really do, I always have the best intentions. I have learned something really important in the last 24 hours, which is that sometimes it is better to take a step back then trying to fix the problem. So last night Ryan had his first stuffy nose, it doesn’t sound that bad but with infants EVERYTHING is magnified. So a simple stuffy nose turns into a nightmare when Ryan can’t breathe when his all important pacifier is in his mouth. He freaked, no joke it was an all out hysterical freak out. I tried rocking him, hugging him and singing to him… he was screaming. You know the crying that comes when you can’t catch your breath? Yeah it was that type.
Don in his infinite wisdom took the baby from me and set him down on the bed and asked if he wanted to play. Ryan cheered right up; he caught his breath and was actually smiling. Apparently all he needed was a distraction, and playing for 2 minutes was enough to calm him down enough that he could go to sleep.
This morning Ryan would NOT take a nap. I mean he was tired but every time I went into his room with him to wrap him up and rock him to sleep he would scream or cry. I finally got so frustrated that I needed to take a moment. So I put him in his crib with him wide awake and walked out, I was just doing it to calm myself down. Ryan never even cried, he laid his head down and fell right asleep.
So I am learning that sometimes backing off is the way to go. Lesson learned.