Growing Pains

I had every intention of posting about reading to your toddler. It was going to be a good one, too. It's not gonna happen tonight, folks. I'm coming off one of those days. Those looooong, frustrating and never ending days. Let me tell you about it my friends.

Early this morning, we head to the grocery store, we are in desperate need of a lot of basics. I have no choice we have to go. Evan (my spirited 2 year old), doesn't want to go. He drags out putting on his shoes and rolls around on the ground shouting about not wanting to go. He fights me about getting in the car, fights me about putting on his seatbelt. I brush it off and we hit the road.

I search the parking lot for that cart with the car on it, park nearby and load everyone into the cart. Evan gives me a bit of attitude about getting into the car. We head into the store and I'm in turbo mode because I know how this store visit is going to go. Within minutes of our arrival, he is pulling items off the shelf while I'm occupied selecting milk. As we walk up and down the aisles, he is leaning his body out of the car and running his fingers along the ground and on anything within reach. Collin, my 1 year old, is twisting his body around in the cart seat so that he can see (and laugh) at his brothers antics. Then he's climbing out of the car front window and sitting on the edge. Of course I am scolding him throughout this time with no results. We head into the produce section and I turn my back for a minute to bag some greens and as I turn back, to my horror, he has grabbed a broccoli crown and is licking it and then puts it back and does it again.

My blood is boiling and I ditch my list and head for the registers. As we wait in line, Evan is trying to climb out and touch all of the candy bars and magazines. I'm ready to go.

Then, the man in front of us comments about how cute the boys are and I say,"Hmm..not today." He sees that Evan isn't listening and my frustration. The man explains that I don't want compliant children because they become compliant adults with no ability to think independently and creatively. He says it's better that they push limits. I listen and really file away these words in my mind. Maybe he has a point. It takes the edge off a bit. I think God sent that man to me.

We head out and I load everyone into the car and Evan yells for his cars. I oblige (not sure why) and as I hand them to him he screams and whines and says he doesn't want them and throws them on the floor. I slam the door and soak up a brief moment of silence before getting in the drivers seat.

The entire day was like this.

He'd ask me to play and I'd sit down with him and he'd snatch everything out of my hand and whine about me touching his toys.  I tried to do an activity with him and he cried and whined. He ignored everything I said to him.

I'm so tired. I bid you goodnight. I hope your day was better than mine.