If you woke a grizzly bear from hibernation, crossed him with an angry cobra, and then let loose a pack of wolf pups...it would be named "toddler". Who would have thought this toddler, our little girl, who can't sleep without her baby doll, plays tea and dress up, and loves to jump into "da da's" arms when he comes home from work, would have the spirit of a wild mustang in captivity.
Ahhh...the woes of parenthood. Babycenter just says that at age 2, our toddler is "coming into her own...and understanding that she has options". Hmmm...could someone remove the checked box for the option of "NO" please? How many "no's" does it take for a toddler to understand that it's still going to happen? Case in point...
"We're going to get ready for bed in 5 minutes."
"no..." She whimpers as she runs off to get another toy out.
[three minutes later]
"Two minutes until bedtime...let's put away our toys." She runs off to give Daddy a hug. (Commonly referred to as "Kissing up" in our household....Darn! I guess that makes me the "heavy".)
[and...the moment arrives]
"Ok...it's time to go to bed. Let's get a book for a night time story."
Staring at me with her mouth slightly open...obviously in disbelief. "No..." She shakes her head...and then runs away.
AggggggggghhhhhHHHH!!!
You'd think since there are more parents in this world than there are stars in the universe, that all the answers would be solved. We can send a man to space...but we can't figure out a quick fix for a two-year-old tantrum.
Sure, some of her "quirks" are kind of cute. Like how she always tries to copy that Pampers "pancake" commercial. (You know the one...where the toddler puts the pancake on her head...and the Mother smiles and chuckles.) HELLO!!! WHAT WAS THAT MOTHER THINKING??? I just want to slap her. Pampers obviously wanted Moms to reconsider their competition. Yes, I still went into the other room, rolled my eyes, and grinned. After all, my little she-devil wasn't too happy to learn the lesson that syrup was sticky. And the time where she threw herself down in a whirlwind of a tantrum, but very gently...as not to hurt herself.
But a lot of the time parenting a 2-year-old is more challenging than I would have ever imagined. Try having a conversation with someone that doesn't understand you (or is just not listening and doesn't WANT to understand you) and is not really interested in anything you have to say, but only in whether or not they've had dinner. Wait...this is kind of sounding familiar. I think I was living this life a little before our little one came along...
A lot of days having a toddler is like watching the weather. You can always predict, but you never know what's going to blow in unexpectedly. A challenge? You can say THAT again. Answering the final question on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire might actually be less challenging. And, with that, I'd at least be able to treat myself to a sassy new pair of sling backs for a night out on the town.
But...all in all...I wouldn't trade this for the world. Any parent would tell you that no matter how many "NO!'s", bruises from being kicked, spots to clean off the new carpet, conversations about "not hitting others" and time-outs...it's the payoff that counts. Sure, that payoff may be a year from now...or 30 years down the line...but there is a payoff.
ummm...Isn't there?
Oh...and by the way...could you make sure that my payoff is the one a year from now. (Not the "30 years down the line"..."Check's in the mail" kind of payment. Thanks.)
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