For those who were previously unaware, I am an Ag teacher and this is National FFA Week. Suffice it to say that things are a little bat shit crazy. We have events almost every evening or morning. Oh - and throw Parent Teacher Conferences in the mix. Yea - and we are still remodeling. And - we still live with the rents. I'm still a Wife and a Mom.
This week, this is my mantra. "Stop focusing on how stressed you are and remember how blessed you are."
Today, a winter weather advisory blew in to the area. I immediately freaked. We were supposed to have Leadership Contest practice, and FFA basketball practice, and decorate lockers for tomorrow's Greenhand Day. How could I ever get all of those things done when all after school activities were canceled? Well I didn't. And so far, I've survived. Tonight, I was just a mom. I didn't go work on the house. I didn't work on school work. I wasn't an FFA advisor AND a mom. Or even a wife AND a mom. I, thankfully, got to just be a Mom.
We played and laughed. We ran and we "all fell down". He helped me do laundry and fix dinner. Did I mention we played? We jumped on the bed, read books, enjoyed bath time, and made time for extra snuggles before I laid him down. I was just a Mom and it was exactly what I needed.
I haven't done the research to find who coined the phrase "Terrible Two's", but I'd like to punch them in the throat. I assumed this wouldn't begin until age two. Wrong. Again. I'm pretty sure it is just a trial period for bipolar-ism. How in the world can my kid be completely melting down one second (screaming, kicking, hitting, biting, did I mention screaming?!?) and telling me he loves me the next? I'd like to slay the alien that kidnaps and inhabits my child's body for the 30 seconds it takes to turn him in to a total disaster.
Here's a run-down of our daily fall-out:
Bathroom Trip - Let's go pee like a big boy, Ok? Ok! Immediately followed by alligator tears for not wanting to go to the bathroom, no sticker, no big boy, no. period.
Dinner - asks for more broccoli (victory!) proceeds to throw broccoli on to the kitchen floor which causes him to cry because now his broccoli is all gone.
Bed Time - Book Request? Charlie the Ranch Dog which is a crowd favorite, but tonight causes a biting melt down. Why, you may ask? Well...that is certainly a million dollar question. One, I am still trying to figure out. He proceeded to throw himself on the floor, resulting in tears because he fell. All we could do is laugh before we threw ourselves on the floor too.
All of this ridiculousness is typical and is immediately followed by "Sowwy" and "I luhhyoutoo" which is all it takes to wrap my heartstrings around his little fingers.
Terrible One's, Two's, Three's, and 16's can't break my love for this little human...I just might need more wine and chocolate than is available in the tri-state area.
