I’m delaying the sequel to Birthing a Watermelon story to vent about Toddlers in transition to Jr. Pre-Schoolers. If I don’t share this now, I may just burst with frustration and develop a rash. I may even sell my child to the next group of gypsies who wander through the city.
I’ve been trying very hard to instill some independence in Carter. He plays well alone without coaxing, reads and can entertain himself with just about anything. I’ve prided myself on giving him options and letting him make a decision without making them too complex – like which hat he’d prefer to wear to school today.
I’ve created a monster.
A living fire breathing heathen attempting to suck my very soul from my still warm body.
Everything was going fine. We were doing great. Small decisions make him feel a little bit in control what the fuck do I know, hoenstly? and I don’t have to force everything upon him. Right?
Wrong.
At two this may have worked.
At two and a half?
Fucking.
Nightmare.
He refuses to choose, he wants everything – Right Now. ALL the trains have to go to school with him. ALL the stuffed animals MUST be in his bed; and ALL the hats have to come to daycare because Oh. My. God. The World Will END Without My Blue Hat And My Grey Hat.
A fuckin’ monster I’ve created people.
I’m wore out and dragging ass just about everyday. I am in bed by 9pm and sleep in late every morning THEN fight the Devil Child because Jay-seus Woman, I Want My Diego Sheets!
And For The Love Of God I Must Wear The White Socks With Blue On Them, NOT Red.
Work is my sanctuary at the moment.
Yes, yes, discipline the child and stop giving in to his every demand.
I don’t give in – all the time. I have learned to pick and choose where I want to stand my ground, but some days, I just have to concede because not every battle is worth it.
My day will go on without fighting over the damn red socks vs. the blue socks.
But am I then teaching him that his bitching and whining insisting on wearing the White Socks with Blue over the the White Socks with Red will wear mommy down and he will get what he wants if he throws a big enough tantrum?
I just keep reminding him that he’s lucky to be so cute because I would probably Fed-Ex him to the other side of the world otherwise.
And conveniently forget a return address.
Fuck this. This parenting gig is for the birds.
Just tell me I’m not alone. Tell me that your child has gone through this phase (and you both survived at the other end)?
What have you done to curb the craziness? How have you managed to get through without selling or shipping your child to a foreign country?
Naomi (Urban Mummy) says:
No, you are not alone. My 3 year old likes to have his hat on and off at the same time. Or he likes half the toys in his room in his bed NOW. And he has to have every object in the house, including multiple items FROM THE RECYCLE BIN in his room NOW. and when I complain, he tells me how he NEEDS said item.
And getting dressed? He needs HELP. And then there are the mornings when he needs help WALKING.
They tell me it will get better. So I will tell that to you too…it will get better. If not, do you think Fed Ex will give us a 2 for 1 deal?!
Naomi (Urban Mummy)’s last blog post..Thoughts on mothering two…
February 12th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Gina says:
Been there (twice). Three is infinitely worse than two, sadly. But they do get better around four. Although, based on my current four year old, not so much, but she’s a drama queen (I’ll split the shipping costs and we can FedEx the both of them). With the boy, two/three and four were like night and day.
Gina’s last blog post..Avoiding a Surrender to Terror and Other Bullshit
February 12th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Gabriella says:
Not alone. We are going through the same thing here. Like Naomi says 2 for 1 deal in shipping maybe. Hang in there…like they say it gets better, but although reading Gina’s comment above doesn’t help, hearing that 3 is worse makes me want to run far far away.
February 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Lexi says:
You are not alone! But I must agree with the above and tell you that 3 is worse…in my house, 4 is worse! It was better, until the new baby came, and now it’s terror again. And he’s learned to wait until I’m all comfy in the recliner feeding the baby to get into shit.
We are surviving….whether we’ll all survive in the end is up for grabs…cuz then we’ll have teenagers!
But I guess others have made it, because there sure are a lot of people in the world…
Lexi’s last blog post..The Sloganizer
February 12th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
LD says:
Not alone.
We are dealing with new stuff but equally as fun.
It’s REALLY hard not to give in, especially if it means being late for work.
You need to read my yesterday’s post cause I’m feeling the same way.
Everything is a battle. Right now our big thing is that we’re telling Matt he has to “be nice” and we’re trying to reward him and punish him accordingly. But, the rewards stuff is just beginning to make sense to him.
Basically, right now parenting is hellish.
His daycare teacher told me that all the kids are like this right now because of the weather. And, I’ll admit I’m cranky now because of the weather.
I also have been known to burst into tears when Matt is crying over something like the fact I bought Dora fruit snacks not Spongebob fruit snacks. At least it throws him for a loop and makes me feel better.
LD’s last blog post..Counting the Days
February 12th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
ali says:
oh yes. have been there. it gets better. i promise. {hugs}
ali’s last blog post..tendonitis. and thai cooking. and getting toasted.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Amy3 says:
Oh don’t even get me started. I’m curently trying to actually ship my daughter to another country. Paris in fact, for a semester abroad. So she can learn that being independent is more than having an apartment 45 minutes from home and telling me what she will and will not do all the while needing money for this and this and this and this which is not independent at all. Independent is not ‘mom pays for my whole entire life’.
You want her? She’ll be 19 in April. She’s pretty. (She’ll make you BEG GOD for the sock wars.)
Amy3’s last blog post..Dear Lord, Bless the Scorpions
February 12th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Doodaddy says:
Man, we’re totally getting the same thing. Read your Karp is all I can say.
Good luck!
P.S. I actually know for a fact that FedEx does ship certain live things… long story!
Doodaddy’s last blog post..I’m the Lonely Playground Pusher
February 12th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Jenni says:
Every 2-3 year old I’ve had yet goes through an insane, independent, OCD, ridiculous demands stage. It does pass. I promise.
But it’s hell while it lasts.
The only advice I have is pick and choose. I have one going into the stage and one coming out of it. I just try to remember each of their quirks and avoid the arguments by giving in whenever I can. It makes for exhausting days, but I’d rather be exhausted than in jail for murder!
Jenni’s last blog post..We Are All Weeners *
February 13th, 2008 at 12:26 am
justmylife says:
You are not alone! My 8 year old is still like that. Her way or no way! I am trying yet again to break her of her bad habit of arguing with me or whining to get her way. Its hard and it takes nerves of steel. I do pick and choose my battles, otherwise I would go out of my effin mind!
justmylife’s last blog post..It’s raining, It’s pouring….
February 29th, 2008 at 1:16 pm