He's Growing Up

Just the other day my husband commented on Isaiah's lack of inhibitions.  We had been out for a family walk or returning from some public setting in which Isaiah had been not acting in a typical Russian fashion.  In public Russians are reserved to say the least.  Interactions with strangers are kept to a minimum, except when it comes to our son.

Oh no, Isaiah will regularly flirt with strangers or talk loudly in a very happy voice.  Thomas and I usually can't keep ourselves from laughing with him, and we aren't really interested in suppressing his adorable personality.

But something happened yesterday in great contrast to this behavior.  Thomas and I had both commented that Isaiah just doesn't seem to realize that there's anything different about him than other kids, and we like that.  Yesterday my friend, Oksana and her little boy Slava came to play.  It was time for one of Isaiah's cathings, and since his little friend is also a boy, I didn't even think about asking them to leave the room, especially since Oksana had just changed Slava.  But Isaiah seemed to have different ideas...he got all shy and sheepish looking.

I wasn't sure what was going on at first, until I asked him if he wanted some privacy, and he said "uh-huh" with the sweetest little look in his eyes.  Oksana and Slava naturally complied, and he was completely fine after that.

I don't know if he is understanding that his way of going potty is different, or if he's just growing up and realizing that he wants some privacy when he goes potty.  Either way, I thought it was pretty neat, actually.

I don't necessarily want Isaiah to become inhibited.  I LOVE his carefree and playful personality; but I think it's really wonderful that he is beginning to communicate to me better the things that he wants, even if he can't explain the exact emotions that go along with those wants.

What are ways that your children deal with differences? How do you as parents teach them to be themselves?