I've been known to lovingly refer to my spawn as Satan and Damien. C and R are amazing little boys. Their personalities shine brighter everyday. They always make me laugh, and are too smart for their own good.
BUT my goodness... "The Terrible 2's", it might very well drive me off of the deep end at times lol. So C has passed his 3rd Birthday celebration, and R has yet to embark on his 2nd- so I should, theoretically, have 2 "angel" children at my hip. BAHAHAHAHAhaha
Ok, C is getting easier to manage, as he's learning to control his different emotions. SOMETIMES. He's also "learned" other undesirable behaviours. That might as well be a subject for another day lol. We just find that a boy at this age has to be constantly stimulated, and the busier he is, the happier we all are.
R, has entered this phase EARLY.
And he doesn't know about controlling emotions, or expressing him. All that know him, have seen him as the more gentle, docile sibling. SUH-PRIZE!!!! You should see him drag C around by a fistful of hair, screaming bloody murder at the top of his lungs. It's terrifying... and why he does it... I'll never know. As I've mentioned in a previous blog about their fighting, it's 85% of the time is started by the youngest.
Both of them whine about everything, and anything. All. Day. Long. When they get something they ask for, they whine that they don't want that anymore. I walk away, laughing. I'm probably laughing because I'm starting to go crazy, rather than it being funny anymore. :P
Everyday is getting easier than the last. And I am learning so, SO much from the 2 brilliant schemers (like I now can't turn my back... they are being devious TOGETHER now... help me, please).
C and R bring me so much joy in life and I adore them to bits. Always will, no matter how many grey hairs I'll accumulate during the child raising process.
And as a dear cousin in-law, J, posted on FB, "Wild Colts Make The Best Horses". Well here's hopin'! :)
I must say I rock the ponytail and sweat pants look.
Actually, if I don't, I really don't care about that anymore lol. Comfort and practicality is the way of my days anymore. The days of leaving the house in designer clothing, hair styled, and make up on, are a thing LONG of the past. Of course I'm going to make sure that I don't look completely "homeless", and that I'm not going to stink anyone out of the vicinity, but by no means am I ever going to win any fashion awards...
The kids. They're pretty much spit polished when they walk out of that door. And in the process of doing so, I leave holding their hands looking like a whirl wind haha. And again, I really don't care anymore.
Remember the days of showering EVERYDAY? Geez, there were times when it was multiple times a day. For an hour. Shaving my legs every single time. Soaking in the tub, reading a book for a couple of hours. Sure I got the time to do that in the evenings now, but having the energy is a COMPLETELY different thing. After C and R are down for the night, the house is returned to some sense of order, and dishes are done, I sit down. And 75% of the time, I just might not get back up (other then to crawl half asleep to bed, when I realize it's midnight, and I've been passed out for 2 hours on the couch already).
So here I am, walking around with semi-furry legs (it's winter anyways, and COLD... gotta stay warm), a fantastic, slightly "shiny" ponytail, and thinking, that maybe tonight I'll shower. Maybe. But as long as my boys continue to "shower" me with hugs and kisses... I'm over the moon.
**please note: I DO make sure that I'm clean... you know... shower at least ONCE a week bahahaha JOKING!
Ok, so I've been guilty of bragging about my spawn. What parent isn't? What can I say, I'm one proud Mama.
But trying to have a conversation with another parent that seems like they're always trying to "one up" you with your kid, makes me want to walk out in mid-conversation. (perhaps after re-arranging their face)
I have no issues if you are proud of your offspring, and want to boast about something spectacular, by all means go for it. Yet when one is telling a story, talking about something that happened during their day with kids, isn't it beyond irritating to be consistently interrupted with "Well Johnny was doing that by the time he was a year." or "Sally doesn't ever behave in a manner like that!"?
So lets talk. Let's share ideas on how we can better improve ourselves as parents, to improve our spawn. But if one deems it necessary to make it sound like my boys are mediocre at best, in comparison to the no less than perfection of an upbringing they are providing, I'm not willing to hear it. I'm trying my best, and I think I'm doing a pretty damn good job of it too.
So who wants to do a play date? :P
Is it sad that one of the greatest highlights of my "Motherhood" career has been that "C" is now potty trained?
To me it really is not.
Although it took me nearly a year to achieve such a milestone, I made my deadline, his 3rd birthday. (with a whopping 2 days to spare, I'll add). NOBODY tells you the complete EVILS that come along with this process. It was probably one of the hardest things I've had to do in my entire life... I'm totally not exaggerating either. I was also sure that such a feat was not achievable.
So the verdict was that boys can be more difficult to potty train then girls. This seemed like quite the understatement to me. I was sure that "C"s bladder was no bigger than a quarter, and also the fact that he LIKED to "stew" in his own filth. But maybe it was perhaps the attention span of a goldfish, and the desire to be on the go 24/7. I don't know, but either way, I was definitely getting MEGA frustrated.
My biggest battle was finding a "reward system" that worked. One that would attract "C" into wanting to use the potty, and consistently do so. I found 2 methods, that hand in hand, finally did the trick (and every kid is different... so I'm sure this won't work on "R" haha):
Stickers. I made a venture to the dollar store, and bought some small decorative stickers for "pee jobs", and ones a little larger for his "poo jobs". I also got a large piece of poster paper. I made a "calender". There was 3 months worth of boxes, taped onto the door of the washroom, for all to see. But mainly for "C" to see. I know I'm a visual learner, so maybe it was a gene past on?
Every time he did his business, he got a sticker for whichever related job was done. Then "C" at the end of the day be able to SEE his own progress, know that there were gaps on some days, and knew when we was doing well. I'm saving the poster... my own sentimental value. lol
Bribery. It was a complete and last resort, and it WORKED! Also, I was not responsible for it. The boys' wonderful Great Aunt is... and I am GRATEFUL for it (I swore I would never bribe my kids in order for them to accomplish certain tasks, but that was also before I had children that I said that. Things change, and things do need to get DONE). So "Auntie K" gave my little man a talk. She told him, that if he went 7 days, with out wearing a diaper, AND without having an accident, she would take him to the toy store to pick out which ever toy his heart desired. And just like that, "C" was potty trained. Seriously. That's all it took (wish I knew that earlier lol). This is also how this giant stuffed "Buzz" joined our family (mentioned in a previous post).
So a fantastic story in mind, with the box of diapers lasting twice as long. (The boys have been luckily wearing the same size for over a year now... so that worked out perfectly). "C" still wears a diaper to bed... that's ok, I know that really takes time. And we put a Pull-up on when we travel, just in case, but he's been really great about it.
So people without spawn don't understand why parents are so ecstatic when the potty training process becomes a success. Why we must update our "status's" every time Sally or Johnny pee's or poo's. Nor do the need to. But every parent that has ever endured such an "adventure" completely gets it, and APPRECIATES it to boot!
And now my little "R" is already asking about the potty... so maybe here's to an easier experience with him?
One can dream... a dream without diapers.
Basically, there is one main topic in my life that burns me like no other: Being told that since I get to stay at home a raise my kids, that I do not work.
Well let me tell you what, and any other mother can vouch for this...
I'm a mother, a wife, a maid, a servant, a handy-woman, a referee, a nurse/doctor, a personal chef, entertainment, and a personal chauffeur. I haven't had a "day off" in over 3 years. I'm on call 24/7, dealing with every situation imaginable with infants to pre-schoolers.
I've developed the magical ability to function on very little to no sleep, yet with the help of high doses of coffee. And on those evenings you like to unwind with a few adult beverages, or a rare date night occurs, like hell the spawn give any care that "Mommy has a headache... let's try to play quietly", hahaha....never! I work every weekend, and every holiday.
I have suffered flu's, terrible colds, put my back out on several occasions, but could never call in sick. Life in the household continues on, and you better damn well be there.
I adore my kids to bits, and they are my complete world. I would lay down in traffic for them. And being able to be there for them in every step of their developmental years I'm really thankful for.
But seriously, you tell me that I don't "WORK"... you're asking to get popped right in the mouth. Just so you know...
So I have two boys. And they are VERY much boys, through and through.
Of course I always expected that there would be fights and scraps between the two of them, but I was thinking more along the line of the pre-teen to teenaged years. Boy was I wrong.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like they're out every second of their days to man-handle one another, but there are times when I definitely feel like a referee in my home... and they fight DIRTY! The claws and teeth come out, hair is pulled, one may possibly well get dragged from one end of the room to another by the collar of his shirt. Sometimes I don't even understand why they go at it, they just do. And as quickly as it started, it's over. Then they're sitting side by each, playing and yapping at each other, as if nothing ever happened, and they're once again best friends.
I would like to assume this is normal behaviour, but at times the level of aggression to scare me into a cold sweat.
"C" and "R" are very sweet boys, and already much too smart for their own good. Yet a few times of the day, I have to step in between them, set them apart in opposite corners of their fighting ring, and even nurse the odd wound.
Is it going to get worse when they are older? Is it going to become "WWE" here in the abode? Or are they going to mellow, and be best buds?
I'm definitely hoping for the last one.
So my oldest, "C" who just turned 3, has the regular semi-healthy addiction to Buzz Lightyear, and pretty much anything else to do with "Toy Story". So be it, I'm cool with it. It seems every kid does these days.
Well, this morning I was ready for "Buzz" to part ways from our household.
See, I'm very fortunate of my kids sleep patterns. "C" and his almost 2 year old brother "R", go to bed EVERY night around 7. And they sleep approximately 12-13 hours. No big deal... I was a Drill Sargent from the get go with them. Bedtime is bedtime, no questions, and never open for debate. And they are usually fantastic about it. Until this morning...
I woke up to the sound "C" opening the door of his room, and creeping into mine at the ungodly hour of 5AM. (If anybody knows me, they would know that morning and I rarely get along, although having kids has made me realize that there is now life before noon haha) There he is, holding his massive stuffed "Buzz" (one of 3, in various sizes and material made), and whispers "We want to play".
He was so bright eyed and bushy tailed that I knew that there wasn't a hope in Hell that he was ever going to return to bed (in a room that he shares with his little brother), and rather risking him waking "R" up as well, I caved, and took him downstairs.
It wouldn't be such a difficult thing to endure, IF "C" napped. But that has been a thing of the past, for nearly a year now. Luckily "R" is much more like his mama, and adores his shut eye. Thanks bud.
So after a fantastic yummy lunch of salmon pasta salad (my husband and I are both classically trained chefs), "R" goes down for his regularly scheduled nap. I was assuming that "C" would be starting to peter out by now, but alas... he had even more tricks up him sleeve. The complete OPPOSITE occurred... he went BONKERS. Time outs, threats of removing his prized possessions... NOTHING worked. "C" continued his spazzed out route throughout the abode, screaming, swearing, leaping off of couches yelling out "TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!" (come one, no sense hiding it, I know you're laughing at the last bit... it's so fitting for the day).
"R" is now up from his nap, and the two of them are enjoying a moderately mellow snack. The next plan of action is to get them dressed for the balmy winter afternoon, to hopefully continue the mellowing process before lunch. Then I have a feeling it may be an early bedtime for "C"... or at least I'm hoping.
So "Buzz", this is directed at you:
I'd really recommend you lay on the down low for the next few days. Whatever shenanigans your filling my boys' head with, I will know. I'm watching you....
