#chevy posts

Night owls

This is my first post like this, be gentle! And do let me know if you'd like something in my ask box. Enjoy <3 - Papa Chevy

I hear you stirring on the baby monitor, fighting sleep. Next thing I know, your sweet little head pokes in the doorway, your arrival preceded by the patter of tiny feet. Your hair is wild, paci hanging from its clip on your sleep shirt, treasured stuffed toy in tow. Papa?

Just to finish this sentence... What's that, baby? You tug on my sleeve with a whine, and I look away from my glowing blue iMac. I push my reading glasses up into my ruffled hair, tousling your head. My room is dark but for its light, and I've been up working on my college classes ever since I put you to bed. Rain raps at the window. The Eagles play softly on the CD player up above, more to keep me awake than anything else. I notice the time with a start - much too late for papas or little ones. It's late, honey, whatcha doing up?

Papa... your lower lip juts out, and I can't help but scoop you up in my arms as tears roll down your cheeks, rubbing your back as I do so. Miss you!

I soften, wiping your tears with my thumb. Of course, how could I have been so careless? Oh darling, papa's finals week has been so hard for you, huh? You nod in confirmation, rubbing your stuffed lovie on your cheek for comfort, fiddling with my fingers. I offer you your forgotten pacifier, and you take it, blinking plaintively at me, eyes glassy from a lack of sleep. Is the thunder scary? You wanted daddy?

Yeah.. you sniff, throw your arms around me, face immediately buried in my shirt. I won't let you go again.

Well, let's fix that sweetheart. My lovebug is much more important, the work can wait, and you need your papa. I power off my monitor. Fancy pickin' out a show for us? Hmm little bat? I tickle your hiding cheek, and you nod hesitantly, so I lift you up to the shelf with the VHS tapes. You snatch the Goodnight Show, a little smile peeking out from behind your pacifier. There's my sweet sugar.

Ranchhand pup board :)

-🤎

Hello my sweet brown sugar! It's nice to see ya around the farm again ranger :))

Not being able to get small can be quite frustrating bug! I'm sorry ta hear that precious. Some things that help my little bubs and might help you:

Ideas to regress!

Generally, grounding your body and mind in a feeling of safety is a good idea for being small. Make sure you are surrounded by your comfort items, with good sensory input, and in a safe spot. Having a friend present might help. Before trying these may I suggest a guided inner child meditation, journal session, or something similar :)

Coloring or making a collage/junk journal -- especially if the theme is something that makes you little. Ex: coloring/moodboard for your favorite character or show when regressed. Bonus points if it's irl with real Elmer's glue and magazines/junk mail!

Watching itty bitty tot media or asmr while eating snacks , coloring, going for walks, etc. also baby sensory videos and stim videos !

Playing in the water or taking a bath; bonus points if you bring a cup to scoop water, a duckie, a sieve, etc!

Making a sensory bin with sand, rice, shredded paper, pebbles, confetti, etc, and toys :)

Building houses for your toys, or making your own little figures out of cardboard, paper, or clay! Then building them cereal box, Lego, stick, etc houses :) on the same side as this making fairy houses while outside or on a walk.

Making food extra fun! Ex: putting lots of toppings on your toast/yogurt, mixing chips/nuts/etc to make a DIY trail mix; using small containers or utensils to eat your food; making ketchup or etc into a smiley face

Wearing extra comfy jammies or regular clothes -- I call them play clothes :) bonus points for fun characters/graphics. Accessorize with pins, keychains, stickers on your hands/arms, lots of bracelets

Doing a craft like sewing (carefully), crochet, sculpting, paper mache, friendship bracelets

Learning a new skill can feel super little! Ex learning chess or solitaire, a new language on Duolingo, watching crash course videos, following drawing tutorials, learning a new rpg game, anything at all

Online games! Cool math games, PBS kids games website, Disney Junior games website, Bluey site, girl games sites, etc!

Getting desktop or browser pets for your computer! Decorating your digital/physical spaces in general with cute things like stickers - the Japanese dollar store in my area is great for this

Hula-hoops

I hope y'all find this as comforting to read as I did to write. The best wisdom comes from being tiny. - Papa Chev

Themes: comfort after a loss, dealing w/ big emotions, comfy slipping

Little one! Papa's home! The door squeals open and I drop the rain-soaked grocery bags on the counter. The living room is deserted, TV turned to PBS kids and playing low, Littlest Pet Shop toys strewn on the carpet; I smile at the thought of your sweet little babbles as you play. Your tumbling mat has been dragged onto the carpet too, along with your ribbons and hoops; I wonder with a smile if you and your sibby are planning a routine for us.

You don't bound into my arms as always, but I shrug it off; you're in the bathroom, or you fell asleep waiting for me to return from my emergency nighttime ice cream run, promising you could stay up like a big kid.

I'd left you on a video call with your big sibby, certain that you would be just fine, but the laptop is nowhere to be found either. I begin to unpack the shopping bag, but still, no answer. Bubba? Papa's got chocolate moose tracks, your favorite.

That's when I hear it, a shuddering sound, breaking the ambient hum of the television. An untrained ear might not notice, but I'm your papa, and I know that noise. At last I find you, curled up on my bed, treasured stuffies in your arms, back heaving as a new wave of tears overtakes you. I sit by your side, mattress sinking, petting your sweet little head. Papa's here, I murmur. What you doing in his bed, hmm sugar?

Wanted you... you roll toward me in your little ball, and I rub your back, letting the tears come. My poor baby, something must have happened in the 10 minutes I was gone. I-it.. it.. You hiccup and sputter, a fresh bout of tears breaking the surface as I kick off my shoes and pull the covers over us, pulling you close to my chest and rocking gently.

I don't chide or cajole, just keep my warm, steady presence near. Oh my love, you can tell me, honey. Papa and lovies are here, nothing can hurt you. Words come in a whimper, uttered like a scary tale.

Lost a friend papa.. lost sibby.. hung up.. doesn' like bein' itty d-dah same 's me. You choke on your words once more, and I hold you through it, offering you the paci in my pocket, and you accept, nuzzling further into me as I offer my shirt for your tears. So that's where the laptop went.

Oh bug... I think about all the laughs you've shared, how difficult it can be to lose someone special to us. Papa knows how hard that must feel. I stroke your cheek, settling your head on my chest. When did this happen?

J-jus now daddy.. i-it like a boo-boo on my heart!

You speak around your paci and I chuckle despite myself at your sweet baby turn of phrase, placing a reassuring hand on your chest. It's not a regular ouchy papa can kiss though, huh?

You ponder for a moment, then shake your head decidedly as I absently rearrange your hair. Mmm.. no.. can't put Elsa band-aid on there either papa! You giggle a little and I smile, glad to have given my dewdrop a little respite from what I know is a shocking loss.

I nod in agreement, massaging your little shoulders as I feel your breathing slow. Yeah, no Transformers band-aids either bubba, but you know what we can do? You tilt your head quizzically. We can express it baby. Talk about it, or draw a picture about it...

-Or play!, you interject around your paci, inspiring a wide grin from me. What a smart baby. Or dance or.. or sing? Or.. you yawn, holding onto my shirt. ..even hula hoop abou' it..

I plant a kiss on your head. We can even hula hoop about it silly, that's right.

Can we play preten'... tha' you're sibby? Your words slur with sleepiness now, and I nod in assent. Mm.. I l-luh' you.. an.. yawns- I uners-stan.. proud you for.. for growin'.. maybe we can be big friens..? Nd hula 'oop bou' ih...?

Papa & pup

I did a thing! :) it's very fun being a papa with a puppy space. let me know if you'd like any art munchkins, it's my break and I've got time before my job starts. I love you ouppy <3 /p

-🍼🐮

Hi sweetpea :) (also to my other askers i promise I will get to yours soon, a lot goijg om im Chevy land! I appreciate you all!)

Hi calf's lil guy as well! Im not sure Ive thought about specific advice, let me think... I'll make a list!

Flip advice!

Dont push yourself! Caregiver burnout is an actual thing, and if your brain is telling you it's time to be small, honor that and allow yourself to be small. That's the most important thing.

Sometimes the line between cgspace and smallspace is fine or nonexistent :) when I get into puppyspace for example I feel comfy being a papa but I feel just as happy playing tug with my little ones. Activities dont have to be assigned to certain ages, you are allowed to enjoy play and fun and 'childish' things!

Also I sometimes regress to a big brother cg kind of space, my middle regression and my cg space in that situation both deserve to be honored. Make sure little ones are aware of that ^^

Don't feel like you have to follow a script or be perfect when caring, most tinies just enjoy having some company and being listened to about their interests. Sometimes just hanging out or watching the same show is such a good bonding activity and makes all the difference :)

You are allowed to ask for validation from your little one, or ask what your tot's needs/wants are! You are also allowed to take breaks, or schedule certain times to talk. Most of my conversations w bubs are over text, and tone can be hard. Communication is okay and doesn't have to be serious or scary :) Theres even awesome worksheets that can help (might make some of my own if I get time/energy tbh).