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Both ends of the parenting spectrum, and both are pretty darn scary
Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, Teens, Development/Milestones: Babies
These days I find being a mother to be challenging in a way that leaves my every nerve ending frayed by the end of the day. My almost three year-old, Devon, challenges me nearly every minute of the day with the sort of contrary state that only a person that small and adorable can muster up. He wakes up every morning declaring that not only will he eat nothing that is in our kitchen, but he will also not get dressed, not take a bath or cooperate in any manner whatsoever. On the other end of the age bracket I have my fourteen year-old, Loren. He greets most every day with a grunt, a groan and an ongoing tirade of just what exactly is wrong with everything in the universe. Since it is summer and my kids are all home from their schools, I sometimes find myself scrambling to make them happy, fix their worlds or just stop the complaining. That is until I realize that my job description does not entail fixing their lives while compromising my own sliver of sanity. Once I get a grip on that thought, I am sometimes able to turn the ship around and gently inform the kids that their minor woes are not mine to repair. I inform them that the cereal in the cabinets might not be their favorite but it is there and it is sustenance. I tell them that not only am I not their activity director but they can entertain themselves. Then I leave the room, listen to their grumbles and then I can often hear them problem solving as they get over themselves and function in a decent manner.
Not all moments are difficult but with a pre-schooler and a teenager life is definitely a challenge. I wouldn't trade it for anything but it does keep me on my toes.
Are you kids at a difficult stage? How do you cope?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
8-09-2007 @ 12:18PM
Jill said...chocolate
I have a secret countdown til school starts... which is now this Monday!
I lock myself in my bathroom to breathe deeply. I try to keep them busy so they aren't at each other's throats (boys 3 & 6). I wish dearly I had neighbors or relatives nearby who also had little children so mine could have company.
I eat chocolate.
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8-09-2007 @ 12:58PM
Amanda said...I'm with jill...chocolate. I lock myself in the bathroom A L O T !!!! but I don't get to for long because I have a 10mo old who is in the throes of separation anxienty and a 30mo old who is constantly telling me how things are going to be. I have finally resorted to carrying a bar of baby soap in my pocket so that everytime she tells me no she gets to taste the soap! beats beatings!
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8-09-2007 @ 5:25PM
Ann Adams said...It helps to count down. Three more days!!
It will still be one crisis after another but at least I'll have the day to recover before it starts up again.
I've never had 3 adolescent girls before.
Reply
8-09-2007 @ 7:26PM
Faith said...Heather I can totally relate. We need to start a support group for women who are crazy enough to have children in different decades!
The 12 year old is grounded right now, but I have take him with me to run around town to get Dr.'s appts, dentist appts, new shoes, haircuts, etc... before school starts on the 20th (for us teachers.)And we are leaving once more this summer (14 hours in a car - minus dad - plus great-grandma) to go out of state for a wedding next week so I'm trying to get stuff together for that, too. On the 5th errand today (my limit id 5 places a day, but we are on the 16-20th destination this week so far) he said, in his smarmiest tone, "You know, for someone whose grounded this week, I sure am spending a lot of time out of my room running around with you.") Yeah, well ya' know what buddy? That's your punishment, forced errands time with mom!
We are hampered by the fact that the 2 3/4 year old is wearing big boy underwear for week 3... Which means HE WEARS THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! ALL THE TIME!!!! So I am taking the suitcase sized diaper bag with 3-4 changes of clothing, because of that one time I didn't bring anything and he peed on the library floor. (We were just running one quick errand to return one overdue book.) The good news is we've had narry an accident in the bajillion places we've been this week and my biceps - granted only in my right arm - are getting sculpted from carrying the big ole diaper bag, my purse, and little guy's lunch box (of 30 hotwheels cars - it keeps him entertained while big brother is trying on dress clothes.) The other good news is since the oldest one is grounded I get to listen to the Ipod way more than ever! Too bad I don't play Nintendo DS, I hear we got some very cool games for his last birthday.
Whew! I'm exhausted! I can't wait for school to start again. Somehow a classroom full of 25 5th graders seems more restful than my house of 2 kids!
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