The Forever Toddler

There are many moments these days that I miss having a young child around the house. Mostly it hits in the moments at night when the darkness is heavy and the silence is quieter than that of a mouse.

The excited screams of glee and the contagious laughter that would follow, it echoes through my mind from when my daughter was a child. As I think back upon those moments, the longing for and missing of those days is far from mild.

There was so much to discover, so many new things to see and explore. Everything was extraordinary to her young, innocent eyes, the world was a treasure trove galore!

Luckily for me, I have a little reminder in my life about the memories more clouded from those days. It comes around to remind me at 2am frequently is the form of crying meows and other annoyingly playful ways.

He is my "forever" toddler, the adorable cat I've had for six years now, since he was just a kitten. His furry little face when we first met had us instantly smitten.

We call him "Toddler" because he is exactly that despite his age, with his meowing cries at 2am because he is lonely and wants to cuddle. We can try to cover our heads with the blankets to ignore him but then he gets a lot less subtle.

He demands attention most nights after we've drifted off to blissful sleep, it's especially frustrating the nights that insomnia peaks. Here comes his yowling cries wanting pet, carried and walked around the house, or because he got scared of the sound of cricket creaks.

There's always something in the middle of the night that requires him to come crying to wake us up despite our attempts to stay in bed. It's those little moments, the little reminders that push the desire for more babies right out of my sleep deprived head!

We wouldn't change a thing though, despite the nights he wakes us from our slumber wanting anything from a cuddle to alerting us that he can see a tiny hole in the food of his dish. He is our forever 'Toddler' and reminds me continually to be very careful for what sleep-depriving things my hormones may make me wish!

Just an added note: This is just a fun little poem I wrote after being woke up at 2am by my loveable cat. As I age, I sometimes wish I had more children, but when being woken up at 2am by the furbaby, it reminds me of the less fun moments of parenting! Though, I would not give them up for anything, this is just a fun little take on those moments where one misses having a baby in the house, and then doesn't miss it at the same time.

© 2024 Luna Verity