• Nov. 14, 2007
HELP! The twos are not supposed to be this bad.
This week has been absolutely HORRID!! I mean come on. I have heard of the "Terrible Twos" for years. It has always been my experience (with my kids, my god-daughter, my cousin's children, and children I have kept in home daycare) that the threes are really where the terrible phase starts. I knew when I was pregnant with my daughter, who just turned 2 last week, that she was going to be different. Little did I know how different.
My son (10 in December) was such a sweet boy. Granted he was sick a whole lot of the time, but still he was sweet. The biggest problem I had out of him was when it was time to pick up his toys. He claimed it would make him sick. When I told him he either picked them up or I picked them up and threw them away, he decided he wouldn't get sick if he pick them up. However, he changed his mind later and lost many toys before he decided to pick the ALL up himself again.
My daughter is a whole 'nother story. The onery and hard headed behaviour started in the womb. My first sonogram, we caught her literally bouncing off the walls of my uterus. Over and over and over again. I was very grateful that she was so small that I couldn't feel it. That was a clue. When she got bigger, she sat on my bowels. As she grew her head put pressure - a lot of it - between my rib cage. She stayed breech until the day before they were going to try to turn her at the hospital. That is when I had to bribe her with Froot Loops cereal to get her to move and then keep my hand blocking her from being able to move back until I FINALLY got her turned side ways. Then I put my preggy girdle/belt thing on the top of my stomach so there was pressure keeping her from moving back.
When I went into labor, I was at the hospital (after my water broke at home) at right around 6:45 AM and she FINALLY made her appearance at 9:15 PM. That was all so very easy. Even though the nurse and I did not see eye to eye and she decided that I no longer needed the medicine in my epidural. Even when my hip was out of place and the epidural, because the nurse turned it off, did nothing to ease the pain from that or my back labor. Still, that was sooo the easy part.
Fast forward two years and a few days and we have a very hard-headed, stubborn, onery, even mean little girl. I knew she was mean by the time she was 6 months old and loved to pull her brother's hair -HARD- every time he got near her. She graduated to hitting and biting (usually only biting herself). Still that was easy stuff.
This week she has blossomed. Monday I was on the phone with the phone company. Yes, I was on the phone for quite a period, but we went outside and the kids played and then we came inside and they played. My daughter wanted to brush her teeth. Okay. I put some toothpaste on her brush and then the lady with the phone company needs me to write something down. Unthinking, I set the toothpaste down on the bathroom counter and go to the kitchen to write the information down. My son comes through the kitchen and I ask him to check on his sister and put the toothpaste up out of her reach. He goes, he screams. My daughter is in her bed and covered in toothpaste. I am still on the phone and trying to wrestle her into the tub. "No! I don't wnat tub! I have toothpaste!" Finally, I am done with the lady from the phone company (that is still not straightened out and I dread having to call back Friday). I have to chase my daughter all over the house to finally get her in the tub. Later, I am talking to my mother about it all (for about 5 minutes), and my daughter walks in covered in Strawberry Nesquick Syrup. She of course has to love on the dog, so he is also covered in it. Now we have to give two baths.
Now let's talk about Tuesday. I finally broke down and bought myself some pistachio nuts. I got one small handful and my little angel sneaks off and she dumps the entire package out on the floor. $9.00 on the floor. I clean that up and direct her to her room. Later, after she is in bed and I thought asleep, she goes back into the kitchen plays in the cornmeal. I was in the next room, but could not hear her. She knows how to be very quiet and sneaky. I walked into the kitchen to get a drink and there she sits. She sees me and jumps up with "My hands are dirty. Come on Mudder, I show you." She grabs my hand and drags me to the bathroom to wash her hands. I put her back in bed and to ensure that she stayed put, I layed down with her. My back sure hurt this morning when I got up this morning. Toddler beds were not made for comfort. I don't care what anyone says.
Today, things are more back to normal. She is adamant that she do the dishes and sweep the floor and destroy any and all pens she finds as well as eat all crayons that have accidentally been left out. Oh and she absolutely MUST help cook dinner every night. This means she drags everything out of the bottom cabinets at least twice. I cannot set a bottle of spices down near the edge of the counter or she grabs it and runs. I cannot try to fold the laundry with her in the vicinity. Unless I want to spend all day folding the same load over and over again.
This is why I do not get to make entries near like I would like. I am too tired after chasing around after her all day. As I typed this she got out of bed - AGAIN - and is now sitting in here with me. Diaperless. That's a whole other topic. She was doing so well with diaper training and then decided she did not want to use the potty anymore. However, she also does not want to wear diapers.
I know God never gives us more than we can handle, but come on.....I have prayed over her, prayed for her and prayed for myself and my stamina. I am really dreading her being three if she is this onery at two. I admit it. I am scared. I did introduce her to the flyswatter tonight. She does not like it at all. I think it may help, but it is really too soon to tell.
Lord God, please, in Jesus name, let this work or give me something that will. Amen
Well, I am going to try to get her back to bed. I too am tired. Until next time. Zzzzzzz.....
Comments
• Nov. 15, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by midwifemom
Thanks for the name. That was a pretty good one.
Reading this made me glad that I don't have girls. :)
• Nov. 29, 2007
Wow
Posted by laquita1967
Sounds like your little angle is sensory seeking! She appears to have a NEED to touch, feel, taste, BE everything in her immediate environment. What a challenge, but I imagine she will be quite creative someday. Hang in there...God doesn't give us what we can't handle.
• Dec. 5, 2007
All I can say is consistency!
Posted by Anonymous
I am not certain of your personal feelings regarding discipline, and I hope I do not offend. These words are written in love and a desire for peace and sanity for you! You need to decide the consequences for certain behaviors and really follow through, even if it takes numerous times. It may take weeks. Also, there is a very special place God created on children to help get their attention, it is their bottom. It is well padded and has been an excellent tool when used with a calm heart. Also, explaining what is acceptable behavior and allowing nothing else is necessary. By the way 5-6 years were the hardest I have ever encountered with my two! Your daughter needs to know she in not in control of you or your house. Praying for wisdom for you.
• Feb. 22, 2008
Untitled Comment
Posted by dukygurl
you love your daughter it is obvious. I have two girls one is three and the other just turnned one...I am re-learning my own convictions on the IMPORTANT topic of child training. I have given myself too many excuses to let them be wild or rude or even (gasp) bratty...so I will in love recommend To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl. It makes a world of difference and the difference is a sweet and obedient happy kid. They really love to have boundaries and it makes them feel loved and safe to have the structure and calm discipline expressed in the recommended book....you can also visit www.nogreaterjoy.org and read a bit of the Training recommendations...have a wonderful weekend ~Trish
