The following are a few exchanges that occurred between myself and my 2 1/2 year old just this morning….before 8am.
THE POTTY
Miles “I need go potty mama!”
Me “ok, just a minute”
Miles “I need go POTTTYYYYY!!!” *does potty dance*
Me “ok, come on” *stops making breakfast, washes, hands, dries hands, walks into bathroom”
Miles *starts shutting door in my face* “I do it self!”
Me “then why did you tell me you needed to go?”
Miles “I DO IT SELF!!!”
Me *sigh…walk away*
Miles “Need help mama!!!”
Me “Ok, I’m back”
Miles “I’m all done. I do it self”
BREAKFAST
Miles “I’m pull (full) *gets down from table*
Me “You didn’t eat much. Have a few more bites”
Miles “I’M PULL Mama!” *starts crying*
Me “Ok, fine, but nothing else ’till lunch. Take your plate to the sink”
Miles *Picks up plate, eyes toast…* “I’m still hungry” *eats the rest of the toast*
WATER
Miles *frantically looking around* “Where’s my water Mama?!! WHERE my WAAAATTTTERRR????”
Me “Right in front of you”
Miles “Oh”
THE EGG
Miles “I need salt pweeeeeese!” *I apply salt*
*2 minutes later, he picks up the egg*
Miles “I don’t want saaaalllllt!!!” *crying again*
Me “You asked for salt”
Miles “Oh” *eats egg*
And just a few days ago…
THE SHOES
Me “Miles, let’s put your shoes on”
Miles “Shoes huuuurt me” (to be fair, his feet are like cubes…)
Me “Let’s just give them a try”
Miles “Nooo! Shoes HURT MEEEE!!”
Me “Ok, fine, just go barefoot then.”
Miles *30 seconds later, starts crying* “I NEED MY SHOES ON!!!”
Me *puts shoes on*
Miles *immediately takes them off*
Despite all of this madness, 2 is my absolute favorite age. I love that they are becoming their own autonomous little human. I love that they can finally express themselves, even though 1/2 the time it makes no sense (to us) whatsoever. I love that they are figuring out who they are.
It’s part of the reason they appear crazy, and make their parent’s feel crazy at times. Because they don’t really know what they want. They think they do, but in the end, all they actually want is control.
So it’s hard. Letting them be free to express, learn, have opinion, etc. without letting them rule the house. Because they will, I can assure you this. A 2 year old can absolutely rule a home if allowed to.
So we pick our battles. There are things they get to choose. There are areas that my husband and I are firm with. I believe that children find security and freedom in having boundaries. In knowing that they are not in control. That they are being looked out for and taken care of.
The times that we have slacked and been very lax, are the times where our children seem the most miserable. Children aren’t equipped to make many decisions, and the burden of this creates a stressed, angry, exhausted child.
Thank goodness they are so completely adorable at this age.
live well. be well.
