By Sarah Fader
I’ve heard of the “terrible two’s” but what is happening in this apartment is beyond that. I’m sure many parents have the same thought about their 2 year olds. Maybe it’s just my low frustration tolerance, but Ari is making me want to scream and literally pull my hair out of my head one strand at a time.
I heard somewhere that nature/biology makes children intentionally cute so you don’t kill them. It makes so much sense. Ari behaves like a maniac. He screams because I won’t let him watch TV, eat off of the floor, pour juice on the cat’s head and other fun activities that benefit him, not me. And just as I’m on the verge of losing it, he flashes the biggest cutest smile. How’s that for an extremely frustrating situation?
Needless to say, I’m losing my mind. I feel like I’m living with an irrational mental patient. But in reality, he’s just a 2 year old. His mood swings are so pronounced and erratic. I thought I was a moody person, well clearly he’s trumped me in this department.
By the end of the day, I can’t wait until he goes to sleep so I can have a break from the screaming and the crying. I feel so guilty. I want to enjoy spending time with him, but it’s hard when he’s screaming half the time and crying the other half.
Oh the joys of motherhood? When does this phase end? At three? Help!
Sarah Fader records anecdotes from her daily life at at Old School New School Mom. She also currently runs blog workshops for elementary school children in New York City and provides freelance transcription services for major television networks, in between running after a two year old.
Sorry to break it to you, but in my experience (and many friends) it gets even worse at 3 lol. But usually around the time they are 4 they seem to mellow out a lot so there is hope!
Thanks Kara! Good to know that there is an end in sight, even if it is 2 years away. LOL!
-Sarah
I found with all my 3 that it wasn’t so much the “terrible twos” or the “even-worse threes” but that they’d go through times of testing, usually for several months, and then they’d take a break and we’d have several delightful months. So hang in there and stay consistent.
Ugh. It’s not that bad for me… yet. But my daughter just turned 2 a few weeks ago.
On the other hand, I’m sleep-deprived and 7 months pregnant, so… yeah, I’m moody and not dealing well when she starts testing the boundaries with screaming and crying.
Oh, Anitra, I’m pregnant too, I feel you on the moodiness!
-Sarah
My first four kids sailed through toddler-hood with minimal tantrums and outbursts. They were truly easy children to parent. And then #5 came along and I feel like we are getting normal toddler behavior times five from here. As if she is making up for what we missed the first four times. My friends assure me she is normal, but I feel like I am barely hanging on with her. It is challenging. But then she says something funny or clever or cute and we are friends again. For at least five minutes anyway.
It just goes to show you, kids have different personalities!
OH MY. He’s so CUTE though! I’m on my second, and my first NEVER had a single tantrum. If I so much as looked at her with disappointment on my face, she’d crumple into tears and say, I SOWWY!!! Now, my current two year old? HOOOOO-BOY. He has more than made up for how tantrum-free his big sister was. I agree with several of your commenters – they seem to go through phases that are a few months long and then POOF! they’re nice again for awhile. Also that being consistent and not accidentally rewarding all the screaming and crying by giving in to their demands, or delighting them with a BIG, CRAZY reaction of your own will do a lot to minimize the behavior. My boy throws more fits when he’s not had enough sleep, so I make sure he’s extremely well-rested whenever humanly possible. Hang in there. And enjoy the adorable, charming smiles!
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