My Baby is a Biter


My 18-month-old daughter is a biter.  I feel as if I should be standing up declaring this at an anonymous meeting.  "Hi, my name is Twila and I am the mother of a biter."  I realize that that may be taking things a little far, but there it is.  My baby is a biter.


As a mother, I don't like admitting that my child likes to chomp on others.  I almost feel like it shines a spotlight on my parenting skills.  Well, if I had been more attentive, she wouldn't do this or that.  Jenae has proven that she is an equal opportunity biter. Handy Hubby, oldest daughter, myself and even her own arm have proven worthy targets. Hard to believe such an innocent looking child could revert to such basic instincts.


So, I did what any decent parent would do, and I headed to the internet. Whew - was I happy to see that toddler biting is a pretty common problem. Hits mostly the second child - well that makes sense. Happy to also see that most children go through this phase, though our first daughter sailed past this fun. At the end of my research I was happy to realize that I didn't cause this, though how fast she quits the biting club is decidedly up to Handy Hubby and myself.


We are now watching her closely at all times (well, we did anyways, but now we are watching her closely for the "signs").  We are searching for her triggers, removing her from situations that are starting to frustrate her and using the word 'no' firmly when we see the flash of her five teeth.  Scratch that - six teeth.  JCMT

Aaaahhh, Nature.....


Thought I would leave you today with a beauty shot I took this morning.  My Fishhook Cactus (Mammillaria microcarpa) hangs out in my backyard.  How this cactus survives is beauty enough.  It sits under a mesquite tree, so it is constantly being bombarded by whatever the tree wants to drop on it; it gets water as an afterthought; and it is constantly shaded.  But Nature always has a way of surprising me.  It is just sweaty hell outside and I am inadvertantly torturing this cactus, but year after year it rewards me with these gorgeous flowers.  It is becoming a summer affair I can look forward to.

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