About Punkalicious

Punkalicious is the first-born son of Tanel & Tom. Born in July 2003 in Los Angeles during a heat wave, he quickly taught his parents the rules of taking care of a high-maintenance baby who needed to eat or be moving around (and be touching a warm body) 24-7. He spent a good portion of the first 9 months of his life in a Baby Bjorn (Tanel never got the hang of a sling). At 3 months of age, he began attending an in-home daycare for 4 hours a day in his West Hollywood neighborhood. By 5 months he was described as “needing to be busy” by the daycare provider. At 9 months old, he learned to walk and became a much happier child. Being able to do things for himself was, and is, one of his most important defining characteristics. Punkalicious moved to Jacksonville, Florida when he was 10 months and has lived there since. He started Montessori school shortly after moving to Jacksonville.

Punkalicious has generally been pretty healthy even though he was in daycare starting at 3 months. This is a good thing because he has always been resistant to taking medicine. From the time he started eating solid food, he always had an aversion to anything mushy or pureed. He does not like any dips or sauces, dispelling the myth that you can get a toddler to eat anything with a dip or by cooking it in soy sauce.

He is described by others as very mature for his age, a very nice kid, and having a very determined (not stubborn!) personality. His determined personality combined with his Montessori school, was one of the reasons he was fully potty-trained before he was 2 (when he was still not sleeping through the night!).

As he’s gotten older, he’s become fairly laid back and agreeable (until he gets pushed at which point he will definitely push back). He does very well in new situations as long as he isn’t taken by surprise.

His favorite activities include riding his bike and scooter, working on puzzles, and building things with Legos.