And Baby Makes Three: The Shy One

I'm reading Dr. Harvey Karp's "The Happiest Toddler on the Block", as I really liked his other book "The Happiest Baby on the Block". In this book about toddlers, Dr. Karp nailed Ronan's personality to a T.

At about nine months of age, one can usually tell which temperament or personality his/her child has. Toddlers fall into one of three temperaments (although some may fall between two).

1. Easy temperament - About half fall into this category. These easy kids wake up on "the right side of the bed". (Ronan does that when he gets enough sleep.) They tolerate changes well. (Yep.) They enjoy meeting new people and smile at strangers passing by. (Definitely not him!) They are resilient, bouncing back from bangs and disappointments with a smile. (Only if I work hard at it.)

2. Spirited temperament - Approximately 10% fall into this category. Also known as "roller coaster kids", they have high highs and low lows. (Not so much here.) These kids are more active, more impatient, more impulsive, and more defiant. (Yes, yes, yes, and yes!) When the stresses of daily life mix with the TNT of their explosive personalities...Kaboom! (I wouldn't say that...)

3. Shy temperament - Roughly 15% fall into this category. They are shy, cautious, and slow to warm up to new people and experiences or situations. They are unhappy with changes. Unlike the easy temperament kids who smile at strangers, the shy kids frown and cling to mom or dad for safety. Shy kids wave bye-bye only after the stranger turns his back and leaves. Shy kids are often extra sensitive, easily frustrated, fearful, and clingy. Shy kids tend to be very observant.

I am fairly confident that Ronan falls into the third category - SHY. Ronan would laugh and play with mommy and daddy but when someone else (even if it's someone he's seen before) comes into his field of vision, his smiles and laughter stop and he would just stare and hold onto mommy or daddy's thumb. If it's someone he's seen before like grandma or aunt or uncle, it takes about 15 minutes to warm up to them and let out a little smile.

When meeting his cousin Matthew for the first time, you can see that Ronan doesn't smile while studying this stranger's face.

See how he's holding onto daddy's thumb? So cute!

Even though Ronan has seen Aunt Susan a few times before, you can see how cautious he looks with her. But he warmed up to her later and even did some dancing!