18 months is not my favorite age. That’s about as nice as I can say it right now.
Both of my boys on the day they turned 18 months had some sort of sneaky, aggressive, annoying, whiny gene activate that turned them into tiny Tasmanian Devils.
(While I was writing that sentence Will illustrated it perfectly by throwing my cup of water onto the wood floor, grabbing a pen, and attempting to push me off of my chair so that he could have the computer. OK, he just threw the pen down the heater grate.).
His latest obsession is finding the step stool, carrying it into the kitchen, and finding the biggest knife he can. I have found him with all variety of knives three times today already. Each time I moved and hid them while he wasn’t watching, and he managed to find it or a new one. How do I compete with that kind of determination? I have no determination left. He has worn me down.
I understand now why people say you let your third kid juggle knives. Its not because you think its ok, or you don’t love them, or you even think they’ll be ok. Its because by this time you are completely worn down. There is no vigilance left in you. You have spent the last 7 years making kids poop, eat, be safe, have manners, and by this point the kids have taken over. You are just proud at the end of the day that everyone is alive.
And, I get so distracted by the older kids, that it takes me a few minutes to realize that I haven’t seen or heard from the baby in at least two minutes. And we all know by this time that when there is silence, there is trouble…
I keep thinking of Harry Potter, when Professor Moody is always telling everyone “constant vigilance.” He is speaking about constant vigilance against evil, but I can’t help thinking it could be applied towards parenting.
By the time our kids get to school age, we can start to relax a bit. Even let them play outside unsupervised. Maybe even get some dishes done while they play! I had forgotten about how quickly toddlers can get into trouble, and the knack they have for finding the most dangerous thing in the room and going for it.
I went to a get together recently with my Mom’s group (PEPS) from when Julia was a baby and was reminded of this. I am the only one who has three kids, and so the only one with a toddler. While everyone let their kids play at the sprinkler park and do their own thing, I spent the entire two hours wrangling Will and attempting to keep him from getting run over by bigger kids, cars, not to eat the sand, the cigarette butts, and to stop trying to somersault down a hill that was way to big for him. If I totalled up the amount of actual conversation I had that didn’t entail me attempting to corral the kids, I think it would add up to 5 minutes (and that’s on the high end).
And so, at the end of the day when my husband asks me what I did today. I very sincerely tell him that I managed to keep three kids alive and fed, with no trips to the ER. Now THAT is a good day.
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what did you do today? 😉
Just barely kept him alive this time, thanks for asking honey;)
I don’t believe a word of it! Look how CUTE he is!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
And just when you can stop taking knives out of their hands, they get old enough to start bickering with their siblings..
And you are probably the only one that noticed the fingermarks on the windows.
Your kids will turn out lovely. Mine did, in spite of my lack of vigilance. Of course, mine arent fully grown yet either.
I was just wondering today how much louder it will get when its three fighting instead of two…
I feel every word. The only thing that kept me sane for my son’s first two years was this thought: “The doctor tied up my tubes so this is the last baby. The doctor tied up my tubes. The doctor tied up my tubes…”
I kid you not.
I have one of those, he is my 4th son. Just turned 2, but was well practiced at the terrible twos beforehand. He has multiple tantrums daily (hourly) and does not like to hear the word no, or any other words that indicates you do not want him to proceed with what he is doing.
oh dear!! I am currently going through the same thing with my lil man (17 months) and my daughter (who is 3) – totally understand and have no advice.. because we are both doing our best!
loved this post, because it is so true!
my 3 year old little man does all these things (in his own way!) and more
on some days I beg for my determination to come back, and it just doesn’t
love the photography too
xxx
I’ve hear your comments about the lack of conversation at Mothers group each week. It’s funny how a group of mums get to spend so little time actually talking to each other when they are focused on wrangling the toddlers.
They cuter they are, the more mischief they get into! Loved the response to your husband!
Oh I hear you, loud and clear! I have 3 boys…my youngest is now 3. I have so much photographic evidence of disasters they created! I remember younger cousins asking, “And what were YOU doing whilst they were creating this mess?” I liked to answer, “I was sun baking by the pool”. Nobody understands until they have a toddler of their own – they’re a force to be reckoned with!
He’s cute though, even with the crocodile tears 🙂
They grow up so quickly, we’ve just got to hang on through the whirlwind!
oh my goodness I laughed so much at this (Sorry)
he reminds me of my son. I can look at what he’s doing and either laugh or cry. sometimes both! 😉
My boy is about to be 2 and thankfully things are becoming a bit more manageable. 18 months was crazy though (being 6 mos. pregnant didn’t help either!)
good luck to ya!
–paula