The Struggle Is Real

Do you remember seeing those pictures from moms about their kids crying over silly things? The "Reasons My Child cried Today" ones? I do. I remember laughing at them and thinking, oh man so glad MJ isn't like that. What an extremely well behaved Toddler I have.

He turns 3 next Month. I guess when you turn 3, or are about to, all rules go out the window. Everything changes. This isn't me being overly dramatic its true. I know you moms of 3 year olds are totally agreeing right now. Maybe throwing out an "Amen Sister".

I have one of those Toddlers. The ones that are the stars of those photos. In fact MJ could probably have his own website dedicated to "Reasons I cried Today". Emotions are just insane when you hit 3. I have read blog post and book on how to raise a little boy. How to let him know that having emotions is ok but teaching him how to handle them. Books cant prepare you for 3. Put down the books on how to raise a 3 year old. What you should be reading are those books that let you know that you are not alone.... that most 3 year olds are insane and all the moms are dealing with the exact same thing even if they look perfect on the outside. That will make you feel better about yourself. Not how to raise your child to be perfect, but how to embrace the imperfections of your own life as a mom.

Easier said then done I know. Because I struggle with it DAILY. I would love for my life and children to be perfect. But then I wake up from that dream and hear MJ dumping out a bin of about 100 trucks, throwing a fit because its Monday ( come on don't we all thought?), and Kenley crying because she doesnt want to do Tummy Time.

Ok back to what this post is really about.

Reasons MJ has cried this week:

Because its not Night time
Because the bed in his room is not his
Because mommy and daddys bed is not theirs
Because he wants to go to lunch and not eat at home
Because he wants to eat at home not out ( after we said ok we will eat out)
Because he doesn't like Books anymore ( until Tuesday when its story time at the library
Because he doesn't like PB and J when that is the only thing he actually eats
Because he doesn't want Kenley to get any older
Because its not currently snowing so he wants to wear his rain boots not snow boots even thought the ground is covered in snow...but the snow is not actually falling therefor he doesn't need snow boots
Because he wants his Birthday Party Invites to be just the truck not the truck with the picture of "Matthew" In them
Because he wants to do his own dishes
Because putting the dog bowls away is not his chore its mommies, his chore is cleaning the whole house ( by all means child please do)





 

Oh That Poor Mom, Thank Goodness That's Not Me!

I just have to laugh when I think about what I'm about to write..well maybe not laugh I think crying would be the better option. ..yep cry. When Mj was less then a year old I ran into an old friend at the BX (grocery store on a military base for my non military followers). She had a son who was about 2 or 3 at the time,  and was pregnant with her second. She told me that her son was so well behaved so they decided to try for another. She got pregnant and about half way through her son started falling into the terrible 2s sterotype. Sounds horrible right? Thinking it is the perfect time to have another because your absolutely amazingly well behaved toddler was just awesome so of course you should have another who will be just as awesome... then it happens and that awesome little boy of yours starts turning out to be not so well behaved and becoming, well a toddler boy. I felt bad for her . How horrible that seemed and I was so luck to have such a well behaved little man and decided not to have another.

A year passes and I have this awesome, well behaved almost two year old. How could we not try for another? So We did. And got pregnant and months passed and then 2 months prior to our newest addition joining us, BAM. ..my well behaved son turned into a 2.5 year old boy. A boy who is rough,  and tough,  and has an attitude,  and is always wanting to run and jump and scream and play play play and did I mention not eat his food or listen to us one tiny bit?  I bet this happened because I felt sorry for my friend and blessed  that I wasn't in my old friends shoes. That's probably exactly it.

So here we are with a rough and tough, not at all  well behaved as we thought,  almost 3 year old boy and an almost 4 month old total DIVA of a daughter. Sound fantastic right? RIGHT!

This week, no this month has been one for the books. Really it has. Mj, although a fantastic little man and so much fun to watch grow and shape into his own, is too smart for his own good...or my good...or anyone else's. He knows how to push our buttons, to argue and then negotiate better then a Harvard Law Student 2 weeks away from graduation, and to destroy every inch of the house in 5 minutes. My hair is falling out. Oh Wait That's From Having A baby...Or Is it? I have used the words "go to time out", "Santa is taking your gifts back", "your not getting a Monster Truck birthday party ", and "I'm throwing your toys away" more times then I can count this past month.  I'm threatening my son with things I swore I never would when I became a parent.  I now understand why our parents did it...they had to. We never listened. I have bought out the closest store when it comes to wine and chocolate and I look forward to bed time every single day.

I think the point of this post is that when another mom shares her lows with you, think that you are lucky that isn't you. Because most likely it will be in a few months or maybe a year.  Now she is probably laughing at me but she should be gearing up for the next big obstacle she will have to overcome, as a mom, next week. It's all a vicious cycle. A very very vicious one.