The last week or so has me stumped. My kids have turned into little people that I can't seem to get my arms around - we've got some serious separation issues going on suddenly; and the jealousy is rearing it's ugly head a bit. Uh oh. I can't leave the house any time without one or both of them hysterically crying.
This parenting gig just hit a new level. It's interesting - the pressure I find that I've put on myself to handle these behaviors correctly without doing something detrimental to them down the line is incredible. I take parenting seriously but I had no idea how seriously I was taking it until I felt so helpless when things seemingly went out of my control as of late.
Both kids know how to push my buttons now - sure, it's the age. They've got my number. They know how to get my attention - both in a good and bad way. As with every other parent I know, forget getting on the phone with the kids around. They turn into crazy maniacs! I don't know why I even answer the phone when it rings and they are near - well, usually it's my husband calling, wondering what we're up to. 9 out of 10 times he calls, we're doing the same thing every afternoon. But he calls anyway just to be sure he's not missing anything good. Nonetheless, while on the phone for any length of time, if they aren't trying to finagle the phone from my ear to play with it, they are hanging on my pant leg or smacking each other (and me) over the head with golf clubs and other long sticked toys. Why is this?
I felt myself be at a loss for what to do the other day when it was time to leave the play ground and Cole looked at me and said adamantly "NO". And followed that with a short smack on my face with his hand. HUH? I don't hit my kids (at least not yet) so where on earth did he learn that? He screamed all the way to the car, and into the car seat, and part of the way home. I chalked it up to being hungry and tired. His behavior caught me so off guard, I didn't even discipline him. Shame on me. After they went to bed, I dragged out my "Toddler Wise" book and refreshed my memory on how to handle these issues. OK, now I was ready. Or so I thought.
These little creatures come up with some interesting antics. Just today, I answered a phone call after I got home and within 5 minutes of the conversation, JD was stealing whatever it was that Cole was playing with (while repeating incessantly the word "share", at least a thousand times in 10 seconds) and Cole bit him on the arm. Hard. This resulted in two screaming kids - both vying for my attention; which obviously was not on them since I was talking on the phone. Hmmmm. Their communication is still so limited and this is Cole's way of saying "bug off, it's mine". JD seems to think the word "share" means "here I come & if you don't give that to me right this second I'm taking it anyway". This never has a good end result.
Dinner rolled around and after about 5 bites, both plates ended up on the floor, upside down while both kids banged their forks on their trays screaming and laughing. All I could do was stand there with my mouth hanging open wondering, what do I do now? Shortly after this, JD demonstrated that he's learned how the water cooler faucet works, as he made a "mess" on the floor by letting out at least 2 cups of water on the hardwood floor. His obsession with messes has gotten worse - and he creates his own messes just so he can clean them up.
My quick thinking really needs to be perfected - I've got these delayed responses, which sometimes consist of cracking up laughing, which isn't going to do any of us much good in the discipline department. And forget it if C. is home and witnessing these behaviors with me - we look at each other and laugh. Not good. Bath time proceeded in much the same manner with water everywhere and both kids on their bellies in the tub kicking all of the water out. Aye.
Perhaps I need a class in Parenting 101...or maybe I just need to keep more wine in the frig and have happy hour a little earlier these days...it sure would make dinner time a bit more entertaining wouldn't it?
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