The Ups and Downs of Toddlerhood

I had no idea it would be this challenging, My poor husband plugs his ears in disbelief that a child could behave in such a disruptive way. Sometimes I think, IS THIS NORMAL and then I am reminded when we make trips to the Children's Museum, and I see breakdowns all around, but when it is your own child, it seems 10 times worse! Just today, I dealt with having my face scratched off, and crying fits to pierce an eardrum, and told "I don't like mommy". When the tantrum gets going, it seems like it will never end.

But then, just like the famous Bjork song, "It's all so quiet", she settles down and her wail turns into a conversation about "Cranky the Crane". If you can learn to laugh at the insanity, and love the child no matter how emotionally unstable they can be, then you might just make it through the "dark ages"......

It must be so frustrating for her as well. She sees so many fun, and interesting things around her, she is constantly told No or what to do. Her mom and dad are always busy with this and that, and all she wants to do is have a good time, eat lots of M&M's and watch endless hours of movies.

There was one day I let her do whatever she wanted, all day, and this consisted of t.v for hours on end. I thought, today I don't want to hear even one meltdown. And it worked until bedtime. Then all the tantrums she would have had that day, were released at once. I realized it didn't matter, it is energy that must be released at some point, each day, until the dark ages are over, hopefully....

We love our children so much, that all of these trials and tribulations are completely worth the time and energy, and hopefully we will all grow to be better people in the end!