On a recent trip to the library, one of the books that Dylan picked out is “Olivia”, by Ian Falconer. He has asked me to read that book to him so many times that I have lost track. You know what, though? Even if I have read it to him fifty times I could read it to him fifty more. I just love that book.
Why do I love “Olivia” so? I probably have as many reasons as the book has pages. One reason that I love it is that the main character, Olivia the piglet, reminds me so much of Dylan. Perhaps that is why he really loves it too. She is good at many things – just like Dylan. She is good at wearing people out – just like Dylan. Naptime at our house does not happen most days because Dylan, like Olivia, is not at all sleepy.
I see a little bit of Dylan in every page of “Olivia. She is just such a typical toddler, and that may be why so many young children and their parents love the original “Olivia” as well as the other “Olivia” books so much. I have seen some negative reviews of the book which say that it’s not a good book to read to children because it models inappropriate behavior and because the exchange of words between mother and daughter at the end of the book is not a true and sincere expression of love that is appropriate for a parent and child.
It’s true that I would not like Dylan to emulate all of the behavior in “Olivia”. However, I am fairly certain that he would do such things even if he had not seen them in a book because they are examples of what toddlers do. Perhaps it is not paint that gets on the walls but crayon, if that is what they have access to. What big brother or sister hasn’t become annoyed with a copycat sibling? Toddlers and inappropriate behavior are like peanut butter and jelly – they just go together. As a parent, I have worked hard to educate Dylan about what behavior is acceptable and what is not. However, he is two and a half years old and sometimes he listens – and sometimes he does not. This does not mean that I am a failure as a parent nor that he is destined to be a problem child, only that we are typical.
Which brings me to my last sentiment – at the end of the book, Olivia’s mother finishes reading bedtime stories to her and says something like “You really wear me out but I love you anyways”, to which Olivia replies “I love you anyways too”. If that’s not an expression of the most beautiful and profound love that a parent can have for a child – unconditional love – than I don’t know what is. It captures exactly how I feel about Dylan at this stage in his life. I don’t like every single thing that he does, and he certainly does wear me out both physically and mentally, but I love him anyways – just the way he is, no matter what. And, even though I sometimes shout or lose my temper, or tell him “no” – he loves me anyways too. That unconditional love alone is what makes being a mom so very worth it – every last bit of it.