Island Hopping

Early last week we found out Elisa had a field trip coming up which would keep her at school until 1:30 p.m. All year long we've been dealing with a noon pick-up time, so just that little bit more felt like a bonus.  Since Nacho was off that day in the morning, it was a perfect excuse to take a little field trip of our own and let Carolina enjoy an outing as the only child. Sometimes it's hard to remember that at this age, Elisa had all of our attention and yet Carolina rarely gets that. So it was somewhat with her in mind that we decided to head back to Roosevelt Island and try heading to South Point Park, the park on the southern end that includes the newly built FDR Four Freedoms Park. Nacho had noticed it from the air a few times and thought it looked like a nice speck of land to explore. So last Wednesday we were off to take a walk on a lovely summer day and let Carolina roam--and roam, she did. We've already reached that tricky age where this kid doesn't like to be confined in a stroller. She's 22 months going on 4 and it shows with every fiber of her being. She really thinks she's a big kid. And chasing after her sister most of the time has meant she's developed far quicker and better than Elisa at this age. Carolina is already riding a scooter, she climbs ladders and steps with ease, tackles all manner of slides and playground equipment and can almost pump her legs on the swings. It's kind of shocking at times to realize she's not even 2 yet. 

So on a day where we have two of us to chase her and guide her around the park, I thought it would be easy. But of course, I wasn't thinking about her wanting to walk along the rocky walls, climb the monuments and resist even the slightest time in the stroller. Most of the day we were sprinting to catch up with her. Ahhhh, this little sprite has really grown wings; we must keep up.  And no, Carolina wasn't always pleased with us on this little solo outing, but then it's hard when you're not as big or as capable as you think. I find myself giving her way more space and freedom to explore things than I did with Elisa, and yet, it still seems it's never enough for her. So go the toddler years, I'm afraid.  I have to remind myself that she won't be this little for much longer and the days of her nonverbal communication are also numbered. We're enjoying all the new words and combinations lately, but still there are moments of pure frustration--for us both. And it seems that the little girl I was thinking might be my quiet little flower is not such a shrinking violet after all. She is loud and squawky, hard charging and opinionated.  And yet after any one of her tantrums, she's most likely to turn her face down and wallow in shame for a minute before picking herself up and coming over for a hug.  That's the difference between Carolina and Elisa at this age. And right now, I'll take it.