Terrible Twos Taking Me OUT!
As we get closer to my son’s second birthday - we also approach the celebration of another year down in my mommy journey. If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you know that after having my son, I struggled with post-partum depression. What probably didn’t help was that I stayed home with him until he was about 14 months old. During my first year as a mother I cried almost every other day, I questioned myself and my calling to be his mother, very rarely did I sleep (not just because of the baby but because I was so anxious), and I constantly questioned whether or not he was getting the things he needed. Fast forward, life got easier and I really got a handle on mommying. You couldn’t tell me I wasn’t killing it as a mommy! BABBBYYYYY – feeding routines, medication, physical therapy, specialist appointments, transportation routine, learning/sensory play.. I was doing all the things! And then, 3 months ago it changed AGAIN! I had always heard people talk about the “Terrible Twos”, but no one ever said the change happens BEFORE kids turn two! Lately this phase of motherhood has been kicking my behind.
Each day I pick my son up from school around 3:45. On the car ride home we listen to nursery rhymes and practice counting. When we get home, he removes his coat and hat, has a seat at his table, and waits for his after-school snack. One particular day, I needed to stop at the market to gather a few things before we got home. Throughout our market run, he was surprisingly patient and even excited to go into the store. I remember thinking, “Thank God he’s being so patient with me because it’s been a sucky day at work.” It wasn’t until we reached the home stretch pulling up into the driveway that he began LOSING HIS MIND. Out of nowhere, he began screaming like I’ve never heard before, banging his head up against the car window repeatedly – I had no idea what to do. I asked him to tell me what he needed or point to show me what was wrong. I went to pick him up out of his carseat and he start flailing his arms and legs. It looked like something out of the exorcist movie. Now what was I supposed to do with that? Arm full of grocery bags, a toddler screaming bloody murder, and neighbors coming outside to look at me like I’m crazy? I picked up my phone and called his father, I recognized that I just didn’t have the patience to deal with my son’s level 10 tantrum at that time. His father quickly came and told me to just go in the house. I was so grateful that my boyfriend happened to be home to tag team with me that day.
I’ve read so many articles online and most say that the “Terrible Twos” are tough because it is a time in which toddlers still haven’t fully learned all the words or ways to express themselves – especially when they’re having such big emotions. As an educator, while I’d like to think I’m a little more patient with children than the average person – I’ll be honest in saying it doesn’t always feel good. There are days that I literally just have to hold his head so he doesn’t bust his head open while he’s struggling to express his big emotions. While I love him more than words, most days it’s frustrating and exhausting. How do you/did you manage the terrible twos while trying to gentle parent? This struggling mama wants to know! Drop a comment, message, or email with how you get through it!
