After surviving The Baby Stage , I innocently faced the terrible, yet terrific, twos and the toddler years as a low-vision parent. I underestimated everything. Little did I know how dangerous toys could be to my health. Little plastic objects littered the floor. “Mommy can’t see them” does not inspire a cleaning frenzy by the beautifully self-centered toddler. I remember my short two-year-old with her hands on her hips looking up at me indignantly, saying, “Mommy, that’s your job!” During those years, survival was the name of the game.
When you have a child, people will give you unsolicited advice all the time, so here is some more: toddlers get dirty faces and they’re quick on their feet. Since there’s a chance that you can’t see their dirty face, it’s not a problem except, perhaps, if their grandparents stop by. But the speed thing can be an issue. It is my opinion that toddlers can outpace any world-record sprinter. So I would suggest postponing that Grand Canyon trip until after the toddler years.
Reading to them posed the biggest challenge. My pediatrician said, “You must read 500 books to her by . . .” I heard the number 500 and was overwhelmed, thinking, Well, that’s not going to happen. At the end of a long , visually-intensive work day, my reading eyes were done. At the early ages, it’s easier because books rhyme and are repetitive so they’re easily memorized. I was able to read more after getting the Pebble which worked well until the books became longer. But don’t worry, it’s around this point that they start reading to you despite you not meeting that 500 book quota!
For all parents, surviving the toddler years is unforgettable. As a low-vision parent, you will be even more proud that you got through it and your toddler was never in danger because as a low-vision parent, you were extra vigilant.
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