Tobey: Bored?

I've been thinking this ever since the baby was born. Being forced to be cooped up in the house not only drives me nutty, but I feel bad that Tobey is also an innocent bystander forced to stay at home more too. It became even more apparent after the first week because Tom, who would take Tobey out regularly, went back to work and it was up to the visiting grandparent to take Tobey out for some fresh air and stimulation.

I can't say that what I did with Tobey before was such great stimulation. Sometimes our "outing" for the day was running errands at Target, or a trip to IKEA, or the mall. But many times it would be a park playdate with another kid which is where Tobey gets his weekday socialization and that was sorely lacking while our parents were helping us. Tom's mom did pretty well, taking him out most mornings to either the neighborhood park or the community center. Two weeks of those two places though and I was wishing for more variety for Tobey but was powerless to provide it. When my mom came into town, it kind of got "worse" because my mom really did not drive while she was here (despite my dad's assurance that she would). So not only did she not take Tobey out, she was still disapproving of my going out so I couldn't take Tobey out either. His outings consisted mostly of the two times we did go out together (Trader Joe's and Safeway...ooooh ahhhh) and a walk around the block.

I don't think it was just my imagination or projection of my own cabin fever onto Tobey that he was getting bored. I noticed he started playing with his toys less and less and would wander around the house rather aimlessly more. Instead of playing with his toys, he would just poke around whatever he saw in the house. While I appreciated his ability to make entertainment out of anything, I felt like he wasn't being stimulated enough. And since the month felt so long to me, I felt like it was too much precious time to waste for Tobey who is currently like a sponge when it comes to learning things.

It was nice to Tom's mom to give us a membership to the Discovery Museum (or any other venue that we think would be worth it). It made me happy to have educational stimulation more readily available (and free!). And the whole idea of Tobey being bored or unstimulated kind of helped me open up to the idea of watching one Thomas video a day for Tobey. Surely a Thomas video beats wandering aimlessly around the house. Sure, I want Tobey to be able to be content at home and I think he is. I wouldn't want him to turn into a kid that has to have something fancy to entertain himself all the time -- I still loved how he and Tom entertained themselves in a grassy field, whacking dandelions with sticks or kicking around an empty soda can. But a month of little stimulation and I know he's ready for more.

As am I!