Happy Mother's Day

Okay, so lately (as in the past few years), I have been a negative Nancy. My life had not turned out remotely close to the way I envisioned it and I knew it was all because of some very poor decisions. I vacillated between anger and depression but had to hold it together for my son.

So, fast-forward to today, I made a vow to my sister that I would not be so negative so I happily woke up and faced the day. I was in a good mood, my son was in a good mood, everything was peachy keen. And then it happened, the first request, go to the potty, was met with lots of resistance by my three year old. Cutting off the cartoons caused a two hour crying spree. Putting on his socks and shoes took a half and hour a turned into a half and hour worth of crying. It did not end there, everything I asked of him was met with a no and a fall out.

I was at my wit's end, wondering what happened to my sweet little two-year old who listened really well and did what I told him (for the most part). I felt alone and worn out. This. should. not. have. been. this. hard. Plus, he has consequences to his behavior, I don't back down and I seldom give in to the crying. I logged on the internet and frantically typed in "the terrible threes" and the search yielded a lot of information.

It basically said, this can be a very difficult time for parents because their children are asserting their independence and are also becoming rebellious. It also advised parents to be very loving in the discipline and to remain the "adult". I gathered up my bawling child and started whispering silly things in his ear and he eventually stopped crying. I pulled out his workbook and we started going doing some alphabet games and he began to work happily (he is so bright and loves learning). It was a triumphant moment.

We had more tantrums throughout the day but I felt like I had conquered something. He is now napping and I thought I'd share with you all about my Mother's Day with my willful and beautiful son.