Keeping it real..

In an effort to keep this blog real and honest, I need to vent.  The last 18 hours as a parent of a soon-to-be 2-year old have been a challenge.  Delaney has exhibited some of her worst behavior to date, and my patience is definitely waning.  After a remarkably peaceful and successful week of potty training at home last week with lots of quality, fun time, she has taken a turn for the worse.  We had a few neighbors over for the Super Bowl Sunday night, so D was up about an hour later than normal.  I am assuming this is the root of this crazy behavior, if it's not I'm really in trouble. 

Delaney went back to Holly's yesterday, which obviously presented her with new potty training challenges.  She did all right, better than Craig & Holly expected and a little worse than I hoped for with 2 accidents.  All in all, we'll call it a wash and try to more success today.  I don't know if the excitement of being back with her friends at Holly's or the lack of sleep from the night before finally caught up with her, but last night (from 5:30-8:30 and this morning from 8 until 8:30 have been some of the most frustrating hours of being a parent). 

I'm trying to look at it with perspective, but in the heat of the moment it's been a nightmare.  She doesn't listen to a word coming out of my mouth.  One minute she's putting goldfish crackers in my clean crock pot while sitting in the middle of the kitchen table, and the next she's throwing a cup of water at me (that she had just requested!).  She didn't want to eat, go potty, or stay away from the hot stove.  She screamed all through her bath, refused pajamas, and demanded "Tinkle, Tinkle" a.k.a. "Twinkle, Twinkle" while running around naked as if her hair was on fire. This morning, she didn't want her hair done, her coat on before her hat, or her hat on without her coat.  She wanted her Mickey Mouse book in the car, not the Puppy book.  She didn't want Cheerios in her cup, she wanted Goldfish.  She wanted her Goldfish in a bowl, not the snack cup with the lid.  ALL of this is worthy of crying, stomping, and full on tantrum throwing.  She's even putting herself in Time-Out--might be a sign that we need a new method of discipline?!?

By the time she went to bed last night(meaning we put in her bed, kissed her good night, and walked out of the room), we were both in tears and beyond frustrated.  I was at my wits end with exhaustion, frustration, and guilt.  Craig didn't know what to do with either of us...poor guy, stuck in a house full of estrogen!  I feel like a horrible mother on days like this...it's the worst feeling in the world.  I love that little girl more than life itself, but she's definitely testing me...  Thankfully, it seems as though so far she is saving all this behavior for me.

I've been praying for patience and wisdom to handle these situations better.  I can only guess we will have more and more of these nights as we inch closer to age 2 let alone the teenage years.  I just hope that I can handle them with more grace sooner rather than later.  I know how many people out there would kill for a chance to be a parent, and I know that there are many parents out there dealing with far more serious issues than the "Terrible 2s".  Don't get me wrong I see the big picture, but the small screen is kicking my butt!  I still can't help but love that little stinker!