Taming the Two: Part 1

If you missed the introduction to this series: click here

Anticipation is your biggest weapon.

Today could have been one of those days where I would have put in my two weeks notice without a few tweaks in my thinking. Lunch time was a disaster. I made spaghetti for lunch because we had some leftover past sauce to use up. Now I know that Owen does not like spaghetti. He does not like anything that resembles real food. And noodles are no different. The only noodles he will eat are the ones that come in the Kraft mac and cheese box. You would think a noodle is a noodle, right? Well, you would be mistaken. Apparently noodles in the form of strings are toxic to a certain two year old.

Now former Stacy would have dutifully made Owen a peanut butter sandwich just to keep him happy. But new and improved Stacy has decided that Owen needs to eat what the rest of us are eating. So, I happily place the bowls of spaghetti in front of both of the boys. Preston says "yes! I love spaghetti!" Owen takes one look at the spaghetti, yells "don't want it!!" and swipes his arm across the tray and the spaghetti goes FLYING!!!

At this point, I normally would have screamed at Owen because I would have been so flabberghasted that he would actually do something like this. But this past year, I have learned to anticipate. Anticipate the worst thing Owen might do so I can be ready if he does do the worst thing. I have only come by this after being embarrassed or upset so many times that I had to stop and say okay I need to deal with this differently. I know it goes against our grain as parents to think about the bad things are children do or might do because we want think of them as angels. But I would say if you refuse to think about your children misbehaving, then you are going to be ill-equipped to deal with them when they do misbehave. And they will misbehave. Some don't blossom until later, but I have never met a child that has never misbehaved.

Take some moments when you have a chance and start thinking about areas that are important to you and your spouse as you raise your child. Perhaps having a child that doesn't talk back is a big deal in your home. Maybe table manners are going to be very important to you. Whatever the issues might be, I would sit down and make a list of your "Top Five Biggies." Then I would start thinking through scenarios of possible misbehavior. If your big issue is talking back, know they WILL talk back to you. They will get a look on their face and say "NO!" to you. It's not enough to just hope that your child is a good enough kid that they would never cross you; you need to plan on the fact they will cross you.

Next time: Make a Plan!!

**During this series, I would love for people to comment on their experiences with their two year olds whether it's been 20 years since you've parented them or just yesterday. I think we can all encourage each other! So if you have funny stories or tips, bring em on!**

Intro: The Taming of the Two

I am going to be doing something special on the blog in the next few weeks! I am going to be writing a series entitled "Taming of the Two." It dawned on me that because I have three kids and will probably have another (not anytime soon!!) I will have to endure the "terrible twos" a total of 4 times. Whew! The thought of that is enough to make me want to go take a nap. But then I thought, by the end of it, maybe I will just have to write a book instead.

I thought it would be fun to share what I've learned so far dealing with this "special" age. The age I'm referring to can range anywhere from 1 1/2 years to 3 years old, so it includes the twos but it can also include younger children as well. I'm going to say upfront that I do not consider myself an expert by any means. I'm just a mom who is passionate about making parenting the easiest it can be for me! That's right...bet you weren't expecting such a lazy response. But isn't that really what we're all looking for? A better, easier way to do things? I know I am.

The Wild

Imagine that you are a lion trainer at the zoo. If you were working with the lions, you wouldn't tame them the same way you would tame the penguins. Why? Because in the core of their being they are lions, not penguins. Lions are rough and tumble, they get what they want even if they have to bite you to get it....hmmm that sounds familiar!!

At the core of every two year old is the desire to get what they want, no matter what the cost; even if it means they have to bite you to get it. It can be a tough thing to see your child go from the cooing, smiling infant to a toddling creature that screams, pull hair and throws themselves on the floor for no apparent reason. But that's the stage. To ask anything more of them would be like asking a lion to waddle around like a penguin. Ain't gonna happen, baby! That's why it is so important to brush up on your coping skills so you can survive this tumultuous time. When you think of parenting your two year old, try thinking of it not as disciplining him but as taming him. You will not be able to get out all the crazy but hopefully you will be able to manage the crazy when it happens.

Congratulations, you have now entered the Wild with your two-year old. I am going to try and help you make sure you make it out alive!!

**During this series, I would love for people to comment on their experiences with their two year olds whether it's been 20 years since you've parented them or just yesterday. I think we can all encourage each other! So if you have funny stories or tips, bring em on!**

Whew!

I'm having a hard time coming up with stuff to write since I'm still pretty emotionally drained from this past month so I thought I would post some pictures that show that life does not wait for anyone!

Owen has been into EVERYTHING lately. Now that he can pull chairs up and climb, he is on a mission; to ruin my life. I have to check on him every 5 minutes like he's a baby because I never know what he might be getting into next. There has been spilled cereal (twice), spilled orange juice (the whole pitcher), holes in all of our bread (which is what he is doing here), spilled flour and deodarant that was clawed out of the container. Wow. That's all I can say. Wow.

Who doesn't love the Slip N Slide?

I have a picture similar to this one of Preston and Owen. I can't believe how much Cameron looks like Owen did. It's because Cameron has lost all of his hair due to the stress of living in our house. I can soooo relate.

The Childrens museum where the boys were able to live it up. It's one of their favorite places to go in Indy. Below they go to meet Dora. I think Owen was more excited about meeting Boots.