At 5:29 this morning, my son was finally unconscious, and when I laid him down in his cot I was pleased that he didn’t get up.
I’d spent an hour trying to put him to sleep, and my wife the hour before that.
I’ve started playing music to help pacify him. This morning he needed an entire playing of Moon Safari, whereas normally he’s asleep by Sexy Boy and down before the end of Kelly Watch the Stars. (Those are the 2nd and 3rd tracks for anyone who doesn’t know it.)
I don’t think that being 8 months old is an excuse for disagreeable and inconvenient behaviour, but my wife says Oliver’s going through a developmental leap.
The theory with this is that, as they grow, a child undergoes a series of sudden significant changes in ability. With each one their mental model and their experience of the world shifts so dramatically that it causes distress and irritability.
But no psychologist can say to a baby, “Hello. I’m Dr. Joyner. I’m here to help. You seem distressed. What would you say is causing this?” Instead, I guess their thinking goes, “if anyone’s experience of the world underwent sudden, dramatic change, that would be a good explanation for them feeling this distress.” So, in other words, we explain it in children because it would be understandable in grown-ups.
With LDC’s investment, Croud is undergoing a developmental leap. Personally, I am extremely surprised that the business isn’t throwing its toys out of the pram. From time to time there are one or two people that I’d like to force to sleep but this is nothing new. The values and culture of our business look remarkably resilient and it makes me excited about the future.
And then thinking of what’s going on now with COVID-19, I am feeling anxious and irritable, and that’s okay. I’ve undergone a sudden, massive change in ability, and - in child developmental terms - it’s a regression. I feel lucky and proud to be part of a business that’s able to do well through this - but after my first drink later I will go for a nap.