When Your Toddler Acts Like a Toddler

This parenting business is HARD.

I know I chose this, and I continue to want to choose it each day. I’m not trying to complain but am just hoping for solidarity among my fellow parents out there. We all want to hear, I feel you. I’m in the same boat. Let’s ride out the storm together.

Because surely I’m not the only one who thinks, I love my kid, but I remember how easy it was before…

Our little girl is sweet, beautiful, innocent, smart, and loving. She is constantly surprising us with new things she has learned, new songs to sing, new prayers to pray, and new tricks to do (like jumping off things).

However lately, she has surprised us with an entirely new persona that has been making more frequent appearances at our house. This persona is mean, hurtful, angry, slightly violent and wildly independent.  This persona throws things (things not designed for throwing), hits and kicks, and uses hurtful words.  All of these things break this momma’s heart (and her daddy’s for that matter).

There have been some serious meltdowns on all fronts over the last few weeks. I have cried many tears.  Our girl has cried many tears. And her Daddy, well, he hasn’t cried, but he gets to deal with the many tears. And almost every time he does it without reminding me that I am only crying because I have too many pregnant lady hormones raging throughout my system.

 (The only meltdown on camera is from over a year ago…I’m over it now.)

We did a Bible study once that talked about a willfully defiant child, and we joked about it – like ha ha that doesn’t exist. Little did we know, one was headed our way. Perhaps we should re-read that book…

But joking aside, there have been days where we have just reached our wits end with this girl. We have put her on her bed for a time out and put ourselves in a time out as well (My husband prefers to serve his time outs releasing energy outside, and I prefer stewing about it on my bed…his method is probably healthier). We all need a little space sometimes right?

90% of the time, time-outs work. She comes out apologizing for whatever felony she had been convicted of. If she were a puppy, her tail would be between her legs and would look up at you with those big sad puppy eyes. She says, “Momma, I have a happy heart now.” And life continues. But I wonder, how long will this sweet girl be here before the other one comes back?

And then, I remind myself of a few things.

1. She is TWO.  She turned two on New Year’s Eve. So she is nearly two and a half, but still SHE IS TWO.
2. If I am frustrated, she must be too. I have like 5,000 words to use to describe my frustration and explain myself. According to WebMD, the average three year old only has about 200-500 words to use. Personally, I would argue that she only has two or three that are honest emotional words.
3. She gets her lovely little independent streak from her momma! And someday, all this independence and spunk will serve her well, but for now, my word it is a challenge to tame.
4. No one ever said parenting is easy. We (the hubs and I) were conned into believing that kids are easy. She sleeps well, eats everything, plays with others, seems really smart, but then she turned two. And we were like, Oh, so this is what people mean when they say parenting is hard.
5. Rational thought is at times difficult for me, and I have 31 year head start. So clearly, my expectations for rationality from my two year old may be a bit far fetched.

So is anyone here with me?  Are you picking up what I’m throwing down?  Do you love your munchkins to the moon and back, but sometimes you just need to call YOUR mom and say, Umm…I’m sorry and thanks for not giving me away when I was two. Oh, and hey, do you want to spend the day with your grandbaby?