This Too Shall Pass...

Mid-tantrum in the middle of the mall

Guys, the twos have seriously taken me by storm. I know I promised this wouldn't be a horrible year, and there has been a lot of amazing development going on in Caleb's little mind. But man. It's been tough to keep my cool. And to be totally honest, I haven't always been able to do that. 

The last few weeks have been fraught with tantrums, hitting, and an unimaginable stubbornness on the part of a very tiny little dictator who thinks he runs our home (truth is, he might, to a certain degree). I didn't know little personalities could be quite this strong. 

If you follow me on Instagram, and you watch my stories, you have caught a glimpse of it. Truthfully, I have never been the kind of person who felt like she needed a glass of wine at the end of each day. I now feel like on the hardest evenings I need not just a glass, but a bottle. There are days when from start to finish, I feel like I am a hostage negotiator, negotiating every single little mundane detail of the day. 

"If you let me change your diaper, you can play with Mr. Potato Head." 
"If you eat one more bite, you can play outside." 
"If you pick up the toys, you can watch TV."
"If you get in the tub, I'll fill it up all the way." 

And so go my days. The negotiations are easy compared to the tantrums and the hitting though. On more than one occasion, I have relegated him to his crib so that I could calm myself down while he was contained and couldn't wreak anymore havoc on me. 

And at what point do I say, I can no longer chalk this up to normal toddler behavior?  I still don't know the answer to this, and I'm not sure I ever will. But according to everyone with whom I have spoken, we are still within the realm of toddler "normalcy." Everyone has told me to breathe, drink often, and remember that it's just a phase. 

And you know what? It might not be over, but today was a good day. Today we played together, he napped when he needed to, and I didn't get hit, at all. 

So don't you fret mama. Because this too, shall pass. 

xoxo, 

​Jenise

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