Dear Terrible Twos
I know that you are a completely normal stage of toddler development. I know that you happen for a good reason, and I know you are probably just as much a lesson for me (in patience, no doubt) as you are for Lil Miss. However, I believe the following are entirely acceptable reasons for you to consider my request:-
You make car journey’s extremely tiring. In fact, just getting in the car is a complete nightmare. Trying to concentrate with a screaming toddler in the back of the car makes driving horrendously difficult. Mealtimes, bathtimes and bedtimes are not the easiest either. They can all result in meltdown, and I’m not just talking about Lil Miss.
We’re forever late due to ‘my doo’d it’ and ‘my can doo’d it mysewlf”
And I’m really beginning to feel a huge dislike for ‘don’t help me!’ and Lil Misses favourite companion ‘n.n.n.n.n.nn.nnn.nnnn.NO!!!’
Your influence over Lil Miss can be frustrating, irritating & infuriating to say the least and I don’t like the affect you have on my patience, which this evening was hanging by a thread after we to’d and fro’d over four pairs of socks which she wanted to wear, didn’t want to wear, wanted to wear, didn’t want to wear *please repeat continuously* (because I’m too worn out).
Unfortunately when you arrived you forgot to fetch Lil Miss the ability to throw a tantrum by placing herself carefully on the floor (like her big brother) before kicking off. And I’m actually quite worried she might seriously hurt herself one of these days.
Plus, there’s also the issue of me feeling like the worst mother in the whole world, because you always encourage meltdown mode whenever we step foot in a shop, particularly Asda or Tesco (I suspect this may be due to the fact that the shouts and screams echo the best in there!)
I have no idea why you’re so adverse to nursery. I’m pretty sure you don’t make yourself known there very often. This is largely due to the comments such as ‘she’s always such a good girl’ and ‘we barely know she’s here’. Plus the shock on their faces a few weeks back when they told me that she’d been a little defiant. She’d said ‘No’ a couple of times. Well, I’d have said that was a very good day!!
Her inability to make a decision coupled with her stubbornness, independence & determination, while you have her in your clutches can be excruciating. I’m hoping that the latter three of those, erm….qualities (?!?) may feature in her personality when she is older, as they will give her plenty of drive & confidence, but I’m sure she doesn’t need to practice them quite so much now. (My husband keeps saying she’s definitely my daughter but I have no idea what he means).
In addition, I can’t keep dressing her like this…..
We do have many occasions (particularly when she has a great night’s sleep and is more able to keep you at bay) where we get to experience the sweet, charming, clever little girl that she really is. That Lil Miss is extremely fun and cute. She makes my heart melt a little each time when she tells me she loves me or that I’m her best friend. She’s the little girl that’s also incredibly caring and adores her brother and we’d really love to see much more of her.
Anyway, taking all of the above into consideration, I’m afraid I have no option but to kindly ask you to leave. I feel that this is a very reasonable request given that you arrived much earlier than we anticipated and seem to have long outstayed your welcome!
Yours hopefully
Kate x
A funny take on a difficult age! So much frustration, yet so proud of their achievements and independence at the same time!
Coombemill – Fiona recently posted..Top of the Charts
That’s so true Fiona, I often feel like tearing my hair out but then she’ll suddenly do something very cute or funny and I realise it’s not her fault, just a normal phase. She’s fiercely independent and so clever, she has such a gorgeous personality and when I think about that I feel bad for letting myself get so frustrated. Most definitely a big lesson in patience for me!
I do love this post, especially after the terrible night I’ve just had with my 2 year old which now means I can’t see straight. I would like the terrible bit of the twos to stop too please.
Corinne recently posted..Not Enough Sleep
Thank you Corinne. Sorry to hear you had a bad night. As much as we know it’s normal it’s still so difficult, especially when it results in sleep deprivation. That’s hard enough at the best of times! x
Just giggled my way through this post… not having kids I cant make a comment as such, though I have seen the terrible 2s in many other children, including the adopted grandkids.
One thing I will say is, your 2 lil ones always lift my spirits when I see them, even when the terrible 2s has shown its face for a while 🙂 xxx hugs to u all
Leigh recently posted..Why do we do it to ourselves ?
Haha. Thanks Leigh. It’s a good job they’re so much fun, huh? ;0)
Miss G is nearly 18 months and it all started this week. The screaming, kicking, stomping.
I have no advice to give, but I’m offering my biggest hug because it is freaking hard not to lose it alltogether. good luck x
from fun to mum recently posted..90/366
Thanks lovely, I really feel for you, Lil Miss is 2 & 1/2 now and the terrible twos have been around for quite a while. Fortunately, I know there is light at the end of the tunnel as Lil Man is past it all now, aside from the very odd tantrum. It’s not forever, but it can feel like it when you’re right in the eye of the storm, it’s so hard trying not to wish it all away because they are also very lovely at this age, but the gigantic amount of patience needed is hard to find!! *hugs* xx
Oh so true and I wish they’d sod off! The Boy is having another wade through terrible twos at the moment, and I’m a bit fed up of them.
TheBoyandMe recently posted..Saturday 21st April 2012 – ‘New’ (112/366)
I don’t blame you at all chick. Lil Miss has had some better days lately, but they’ve been punctuated with some pretty spectacular strops. They’ll go away sooner or later. (The terrible twos that is, not the toddlers!) x