I start this blog with a giant sigh of exasperation. I roll my eyes heavenward and shake my head with a chuckle as I tell you,
We've reached the "terribles", that joyful time in a toddler's life that is absolutely defined by selfishness, stubbornness, show offing, and sweetness. It's a critical phase of development as the toddler learns to express himself as something of an individual, while we mold him into a socially acceptable human being.
Brooklyn went through it,though she asks me not to talk about it, because she is in the phase of development where she feels shame and embarrassment...a whole other ballgame, let me tell ya! But anyway, she not only survived, but managed to turn into a lovely, well mannered little girl.
All it took was painstakingly consistent discipline, heaps of patients, lots of laughing, and a fair amount of grace. Of course Brooklyn wasn't competing with two other siblings for mommy and daddy's attention, nor was her body filled with testosterone. Disadvantage, Grayson. Again, I sigh.
That boy might push every button I have (usually before noon!), and he might take the extra hands of every able bodied adult in the house, but gosh do I love him!!
What a character! There is a reason we have called him tenacious from the start!
His whole world is "no!!" and "stop!" and "get down!" and "be sweet to your sisters!"and "don't hit/ride/eat/jump on the dog!!"!
But for every conflict that earns me a gray hair, there are just as many snuggles, smiles, giggles, belly laughs, and moments of glorious achievement. He loves when his efforts to communicate are understood. He cheers when he gets his way.
He is my toddler. A handful. A heartful.
This boy is driving me bonkers!!
We've reached the "terribles", that joyful time in a toddler's life that is absolutely defined by selfishness, stubbornness, show offing, and sweetness. It's a critical phase of development as the toddler learns to express himself as something of an individual, while we mold him into a socially acceptable human being.
Brooklyn went through it,though she asks me not to talk about it, because she is in the phase of development where she feels shame and embarrassment...a whole other ballgame, let me tell ya! But anyway, she not only survived, but managed to turn into a lovely, well mannered little girl.
All it took was painstakingly consistent discipline, heaps of patients, lots of laughing, and a fair amount of grace. Of course Brooklyn wasn't competing with two other siblings for mommy and daddy's attention, nor was her body filled with testosterone. Disadvantage, Grayson. Again, I sigh.
That boy might push every button I have (usually before noon!), and he might take the extra hands of every able bodied adult in the house, but gosh do I love him!!
What a character! There is a reason we have called him tenacious from the start!
His whole world is "no!!" and "stop!" and "get down!" and "be sweet to your sisters!"and "don't hit/ride/eat/jump on the dog!!"!
But for every conflict that earns me a gray hair, there are just as many snuggles, smiles, giggles, belly laughs, and moments of glorious achievement. He loves when his efforts to communicate are understood. He cheers when he gets his way.
He is my toddler. A handful. A heartful.
So sweet! So true.
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