I know there are probably one or two people out there who have been anxiously awaiting the latest installment in the Winters lives, and it has been a long time coming. There are a number of excuses I could give (I was out of town for a week, it was my birthday, yadda yadda). But in all honesty, the truth is that I have been, ehhh… less than inspired in the last couple weeks. Why, you ask? Because somewhere, somehow, someone came in and stole my sweet precious little toddler and replaced her with a tantrum-throwing out-of-control monster rascal.
Oh sure, she’s had tantrums before, but I always saw them coming, could prepare, distract, or generally get through them in a couple of short minutes. But in an instant that all changed, for more or less no reason, and man has it been one long week!
The thing is, I probably got a little cocky in my parenting abilities. I’ve read the books, the websites, and watched a good deal of Supernanny. We’ve got a time-out spot (affectionately referred to as the “Naughty Mat” though we’re trying to change the verbage on that), and we haven’t been afraid to use it. I thought we had everything pretty much under control. So, I guess we needed a little lesson in who’s really the boss around here, lest we thought it was us!
The funny thing is, when I go back to the books and the websites, we’re doing everything they say. When she freaks out, I pretty much just let her go and I leave the room. Isn’t that supposed to get them to calm down, if the tantrum is not getting them any attention? Au contraire, my friends. Nope, her best one this week was clocked at 30 minutes, and I was upstairs and she was downstairs, writhing around on the floor.
And even that I can handle. It’s when I’m busy feeding Nolan and she starts in on one (yes, yes, I’m sure there’s some jealously playing in here) that I really struggle with because I don’t even get anywhere to escape! I’m forced to sit there and listen to the shrieks (and let me tell you, Mariah Carey better watch out) with poor Nolan looking up at my like, “Can’t you please just make her stop and let me eat in peace?!”
So, I just keep on talking to my friends with kids who are now four or older. This too shall pass, as they say. It’s going to be one long year until it does though. In the meantime, I keep trying to think happy thoughts, reminding myself that I’m the adult, and I know how to keep myself under control (how quickly I forget)! And then there’s always that inevitable moment where she makes it all better by saying out of the blue, “Momma, I love you.” And my heart of stone melts one more time, and I resolve to do better tomorrow, to be a little more worthy of that unconditional love she has for me. Thanks for hanging in there with me little one.
Ah, the joys of motherhood…..I’m glad my baby is 20! It’s like the minute you think you really have it figured out and controlled, THEY change the rules………best of luck my dear!