It seems like when one thing goes wrong in our mornings everything goes wrong. Thus was the case this morning. I woke up at an earlier time than normal which was great so I wouldn't feel as rushed as I normally do (or so I thought). Neither Max or myself are morning people when we have to wake up. If we wake up on our own though, we are both a breath of fresh air. When I have to wake up Max in the morning I'm pretty sure he has no recollection of how he got into the living room as he is banging into walls on the way down the hallway like a drunk little old man. Likewise, I find myself sometimes washing my hair twice forgetting if I had done it already. But, there is something about the morning times where Max decides he's not going to cooperate with anything I tell him. Most of the time he doesn't throw all out fits but he will do anything in his power to escape being dressed in the mornings. He will wait until a single second where I don't have my hand around his waist and wiggle away to another couch or the reading nook, he will stiffen his arms so I can't get his shirt on or off, make his body go limp, etc. The whole time he's smiling and I am thinking in my head, "this kid is laughing at me inside". Threats, time outs, spankings make no difference and just cause further break downs. The only things that are my saving grace some mornings are when I can distract him with talking or something on TV or starting to count to 3 in a stern voice.
Anyways, I have come to the conclusion that it should not have been the terrible 2s, it really should be the terrible 3s and many of my friends of 3 year olds (or older) share that sentiment. By 3 they are really starting to develop their own opinions and attitudes (which Max seems to have a lot of), enjoying some independence and decision making ("What do you want for dinner tonight?" "I want to wear that shirt today." Or Max's favorite, "I don't need you to go to the bathroom with me.") but at the same time are more dependent on you than they like to think they are ("Will you wipe by butt?" "Will you help me put my shoes on?") Then of course there are times when all out fits are thrown over ridiculous things like "I don't want Stevie (the cat) in my room", "I don't want a red Popsicle", "My nose is running" or one of Max's favorites "I don't like commercials".
Then the blatant not listening of a 3 year old is equally as frustrating. "I know you are hear what I am telling you" as I am standing right in front of him. And the repeating telling him the same thing over and over again like the other day I told him 3 times to get his finger off of his friend's face just being wild and messing around and he still did it after I asked him the second time if he heard me and said yes. So after the third time I got right behind him on his level and turned him around by his arm and I saw the same fear of Mom look my mother instilled in us in his eyes and knew I didn't have to say anything more. He immediately stopped and didn't continue.
I also always joke with my mom how much we thought all hell broke loose when he started getting mobile compared to now. Now, he knows what he is doing is wrong like coloring on the floor, taking the baby proofing out of the outlets to stick something in it, (don't worry, we had a remember the hospital talk since he was so traumatized by being stuck there during meningitis) biting glow sticks, and shooting the TV with a Nerf gun to name a few. He is definitely more mentally and physically tiring now than he ever has been.
All I know is regardless of anything that kid does 5 good minutes makes up for any amount of bad behavior. 3 year olds are challenging on a good day but worth every sweet little kiss and hug.
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