I think Tanner would agree with me when I tell you that he has had a pretty fun summer vacation up until this point. We have spent countless hours around water whether it’s been a pool, lake, the San Francisco Bay or Pacific Ocean.
We were in Lake Tahoe for the Fourth of July where we basically planted ourselves on a beach for four days. It was crowded as could be, but Tanner remained happy with a shovel and a deep hole dug at the water’s edge.
I enjoy taking him places where I know he will have a good time, and it’s easy to travel with him because he tends to just go with the flow of things. I always pack enough bedding so that in the evenings I can create a cozy nest for him to sleep in much like at home. He doesn’t need much when we travel — a few books, some of his best toys and a comfortable place to sleep at night will do. (OK, well, maybe some chicken strips thrown in there for good measure.)
Since I’m not working the official 9 to 5 job at this time, we tend to spend a lot of time together. The grandparents jump in on occasion, but for the most part, it’s Tanner and me hanging tight for the summer.
So I was pretty fired up this past weekend when we were offered access to a beach house located in Stinson Beach. For those of you from outside the Bay Area, Stinson Beach is located approximately 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The particular area we stayed in is called Seadrift. It’s a gated community of homes with some directly on the beach while others back up to a man-made lagoon. We stayed in a house that backed up to the lagoon, which for Tanner is a highlight because the lagoon is full of crabs. One of Tanner’s favorite pastimes is catching crabs off of the backyard dock. He can occupy himself for hours as he checks his traps and moves crabs from one bucket to another, inspecting them as he does.
Have you ever experienced one of those days where you seem extra sensitive to your surroundings? For example, you’re eating lunch and the person sitting next to you is eating potato chips. Most of the time, this wouldn’t bother you and you probably wouldn’t even notice. But there are those days when each bite that person takes of the chip just floods into your eardrums and after a while, for whatever reason, it just starts to grate on your nerves.
OK… I think that may have been me on the last day at the beach. It’s wonderful to spend my time with Tanner. He is seven now and says the funniest things in all seriousness, and I find it pretty cute. Unfortunately, there are those days when he has so much to say and I’m his only outlet. Hold on. I take that back. Everyday he has a lot to say.
This past “potato chip” experience focused on the word “Dad.” Naturally, I hear him say it on a daily basis, and he says it a lot. Dad? Dad! Dad!? Dad. Dad. Dad. I hear it everyday. I appreciate it. I cherish it and I hope he always calls me Dad.
But on this last day, after days of hearing ‘Dad’ over and over again, I was done. My ears simply couldn’t handle hearing that high-pitched little voice of his saying “Dad” anymore.
Instead of simply telling him to put a sock in it, and boy was I tempted, I decided to lighten things up a bit and make a sport of it. Beginning in the morning I started to take an approximate count of how many times he said could say “Dad” in a single day.
Here’s how it went: I took “sample minutes” as separate data points and from there went on to create an approximate “Dad” average per minute. On average, Tanner says “Dad” about five times a minute. Doing the math that works out to 300 “Dads” an hour and estimating that Tanner is awake, and talking around 12 hours a day, we come to a total of 3,600 “Dads” per day.
Granted this is simply an approximation, but let’s say it’s a slow day and Tanner only says “Dad” 3 times a minute. That still works out to an impressive 2,160 “Dads” a day.
I will give the kid some credit. That is a lot of ”Dads” for a little guy to say, even if it were only done one day out of his life. Alas, that is not the case and now I’m starting to wonder if I should get the Guinness Book of World Records involved?
I’m over it as of today. I must have hit the reset button and once again my “ear force fields” are operational and the ”Dads” are bouncing off me. I guess like most parents I hit that point in time where everything our children do is amplified and drives us ding-dong.
I know I will always rebound but there are certainly those days when I feel like exclaiming to the world, “Put a fork in me. I’m done!”
Please tell me I’m not the only one who reaches this breaking point?
Signed,
Dad
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{ 46 comments }
My mom used to tell us that she was "changing her name" and wouldn't answer to "Mom" any longer. I think it's totally natural to be "done" from time to time. And like you said … the "reset" button usually takes care of the problem in a short time.
Wonderful post … thanks for sharing it!
Poor little tyke, he doesn't know any better than to say "Dad" constantly! He looks a mite vulnerable standing on that surf board, by the way. He'll grow into it.
I remember when my son was little and I said to my Mom one day on a car ride "He never stops talking!" I wish those days were back, he's grown now and we don't get to talk as much.
I hate to say this but I have the answer!…
Hmm, planning any more kids lately??
we all need time to recharge
even the most extroverted of us
wow! looks like so much fun. Treasure each moment and those are memories you'll all share forever. =)
You are not alone, my son drives me insane sometimes because he has a habit of repeating EVERYTHING- over and over and over again, especially "Moooo-ooooom"
Never have counted but I think I am going to go do it now…lol
My little girl just started doing this…she is almost 2. She says mamadada about 20 times in five minutes. She always says both even if she is just talking to one of us. Right now it's supercute, but I'm thinking by the time she's 7 Im going to need a good pair of earplugs.
My son is 2 and also says mamadada A LOT. He does say Mommy a lot too through out the day. I walk into another room and all I hear is "Mommy, Mommy".
So true what you said about how some days the weirdest thing bothers you!! I have so been there.. Time to ReCharge! LOL
When I hear, "Mom" – I answer with "Sammy". My daughter does the the same thing. He will say, "Sister" – and she answers "Brother!"
When My 3 kids do the "Mommy" thing too much, i get quiet then call them each random names for the next hour or so like cellphone, meatball, and teddybear. They get so confused as to who I'm talking to it becomes a game and they try to figure out who is who… its so much fun, and they stop bugging me!
I've never thought to count….honestly I don't think I could keep track. Sometimes I'll lock myself in the bathroom and turn on the shower just to escape being called relentessly!
I'm still fairly new to hearing it coherently (my son is 17 months) but with two more boys on the way, I bet that I will be wanting to change my name as well. I was a ninth grade teacher and sure got sick of hearing 'Mrs. Soandso!!' day in and day out.
My daughter is adopted, it was a very, very, very long journey to become a mom. I thought I would never tire of hearing someone call me mommy. I usually just need to remind myself of how I yearned for this to get over being "done". Picking up toys is a similar situation. When she first came home, I would wander around picking up her toys with such joy. Picking up toys was an opportunity that I treasured. Now, four years and a bazillion toys later? If I do get impatient, I just try to remember what it was like before she came in my life. It's all sooooo worth it.
I don't have a kid but I have three nieces and 1 nephew who called me Mom, and I couldn't count how many times they call me Mom in a day. Sometimes you get fed up with it but if they are gone to school and the house is quite I missed it.
I dont have any kids yet. But I remember always being told, I'm going to change my name… I think every mom says that. Anyway, one day, my mom got soooo tired of me always going to her…. She paid me $50 to go to my dad all day! I had to make sure every sentence began and ended with dad. I think it gave my dad a new appreciation for my mom…. and she got peace and quiet alllll day.
I have 3 nieces now, all who go to daddy, go figure. LoL.
Everyone has those days. You are bound to have more as you are spending so much time with your son and not having other outlets for him or you. You wouldn't be human if sometimes you need to say "stick a fork in me, I'm done". We all need a break sometime.
I must admit, I never counted the "Moms" in a day that I have heared from any of my seven (!) children.
My youngest child does say "Your my cutest girl ever" to me MANY times a day….and that never gets old
I never counted to time I heard mom in a day, but I count the days till they are all grown and I wont here it
My daughter says mom so often I've lost count. But, she'll go to school soon and I know I'll miss it then
.
My daughter who will be 7 next week can be talking and looking straight at me and will say Mommy at least 4-5 times a minute even though I’m paying attention to her! Sometimes it really gets on my nerves, but then I have to remember that I’d give anything to hear my oldest son say Mommy again. He would have been 10 years old yesterday, but passed away from Leukemia 1 year and 4 months ago.
The more the better!
As annoying as it may seems, youth is but a fleeting moment in a person's lifetime.
I haven't tried, but I am guessing its upwards of 200+. Children have so much energy, even just to talk!
I remember telling my kids I was changing my name! I would no longer be "Mom"! When they asked what my name would be, I said I wasn't telling them! But for the most part, "Mom" has always been my favorite name!
It's funny how we can't wait for our babies to say "mama" and "dada" but then we sometimes find ourselves wishing they had an off switch.
Every Sunday I reach my breaking point with the boys. they drive me batty!! all the screaming, and running, and whining….
That's just a part of parenting! On those days it is great if the grandparents can take over and just give you a rest from the "dads" and time for not being responsible for the child 24/7…my husband and I try to remain available for "grandparent duty" for our sons/daughters-in-law
Keepin you in my thoughts and prayers as you raise your little darling little chatter box.
did you get "Put a fork in me — I'm done" from Kate McGill?
that made me happy to see because I LOVE her music:)
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