Hello…?
Mom of an almost three-year-old…are you out there in the midnight darkness?
Somewhere…? Anywhere…?
It’s the middle of the night and I can’t sleep. See, I’m a mom of an almost three-year-old, too. And I can’t sleep because I keep thinking about the day we had today, and yesterday, and the day before that. And of course I’m thinking about the not-so-good parts.
As you’re probably all too familiar, we’ve been having a lot of explosions. Or as I like to call them, BOOM moments.
Daddy got her milk cup out of the fridge instead of mommy – BOOM!
Mommy got her milk cup out of the fridge but it wasn’t full to the top – BOOM!
Her granola bar wasn’t cut up just right – BOOM!
Her one granola bar didn’t fill up her bowl all the way – BOOM!
Daddy tried to take her to the bathroom when she said she had to go – BOOM!
Mommy started singing along to a song – BOOM!
Mommy didn’t sing along to the song – BOOM!
The music wasn’t on loud enough – BOOM!
The song she wanted didn’t immediately start to play – BOOM!
Mommy talked too quietly/whispered – BOOM!
Mommy talked too loud – BOOM!
She has to ride in the cart while at Target – BOOM!
Mommy says she can walk through the mall – BOOM!
The Panda Express woman gives her an extra fortune cookie – BOOM!
The Subway Sandwich Artist puts pickles on her sandwich (which she later devours) – BOOM!
Mickey Mouse isn’t on tv – BOOM!
She wakes up in the middle of the night and daddy goes into her room – BOOM!
Mommy then goes into her room and doesn’t lay her down in her crib just right – BOOM!
Daddy pretty much tries to do anything for her – BOOM!
Needless to say I feel exhausted after several days in a row of this.
Did you have a day and night filled with BOOM moments today? Yeah, me too.
Did you find it hard to see through to the good today? Yeah, me too.
Do you hope this phase ends as soon as possible? Yeah, me too.
Did you lose your temper and yell back today? Yeah, me too.
Did you lose your temper and yell back yesterday too? Yeah, me too.
Did you regret it, maybe not right away, but eventually? Yeah, me too.
Did you toss and turn most of the night feeling guilty about it? Yeah, me too.
Do you still love your child more than anything else in the world? Yeah, me too!
Well, mom of an almost three-year-old, I hope you’re out there somewhere. That way I know I’m not alone and I’m not the only one going through this. And, wherever you are, I hope you know that YOU are not alone either! We are in this together on some special plane of existence for moms of almost three-year-olds.
I’ll hang in there, if you will.
And hey, if you happen to be nearby, let’s meet up for a cup of coffee tomorrow, because I think we’ll need it after the sleepless night we both had!
Well, goodnight fellow struggling mom. Try to get some sleep. And let’s hope tomorrow is a better day!
Reasons my 2.5-year-old was crying over the past three days:
*Because I wouldn’t put a Band-Aid on the roof of her mouth
*Because I closed the refrigerator door with my foot INSTEAD OF MY HAND OH MY GOD HOW DARE YOU MOMMY
*Because I sang Elmo’s Ducks with her
*Because I didn’t sing Elmo’s Ducks with her
*Because Daddy put the lid on her sippy cup instead of letting her do it
*Because she was asked to carry her plate to the table on her own
*Because the dog ate the cat’s food
*Because the cat’s food was overflowing and she couldn’t fit any more into it
*Because Letter Factory was over
*Because I kissed her on the forehead then nose, instead of the nose-then-forehead
I hear ya Mama. 🙂 We can get through this!
P.S. — I rather enjoy following Honest Toddler on Facebook. Totally makes light of this stage in a very funny way. 🙂
Thanks for sharing Lydia! Glad to know I’m not the only one dealing with this kind of stuff! And I love Honest Toddler too!
I’m there with you too. Mine just turned three last week. Recent examples
* Because there is not enough egg on his plate – he wants a lot of egg (but never finishes it all)
* Because he doesn’t want to wear pants to daycare – he wants to be naked
* Because he wants to wear ONLY snow pants outside – and I want him to put more clothes on
* Because we won’t let him wear his underwear that he just peed in
* Because he dropped something – and I didn’t pick it up for him instantly
* Because he wants me to have a shower (but I just had one)
* Because I have a towel on my head (after just having a shower)
The are so lovely aren’t they 🙂
My little girl is three and a half so I completely relate. We’ve been through that phase and occasionally it still happens. Mainly on days when she hasn’t had enough sleep or just wants the weekend to come. 🙂 Hang in there! Hopefully things will get better for you all soon!
oh my goodness, I am so there. Mollie is 2.5 going on 13, or something. She’s channeled some southern debutante diva and has (literally) renamed herself “Sugar.” Sugar is fiercely independent and told me today that she was going to Monkey College when she grew up, so she could be a real monkey. Im still recovering from her morning meltdown (about needing big apple chips, not broken ones & wanting to wear “kitty Jammies” to daycare), so I’m sure it will all be much funnier tomorrow. Until then, I will enjoy a few more minutes of a quiet house before I go kick the dog out of my side of the bed…and fall face first into my pillow.