I miss 18 months, can I go back to 18 months?

Posted on May 28, 2008

Chloe is now two, and she has become the stereotype. Every question is answered with an angry and accusing, “NO!”

“Chloe do you want lunch?” “NO LUNCH!” Two minutes later, “Mommy, hungry?”

“Chloe do you want to play outside?” “NO OUTSIDE!” Two seconds later, “Mommy, outside?”

“Chloe do you want a chocolate donut covered in a sticky sugar glaze?” “NO DONUT!” Pause pause, “Mommy, chocolate donut?”

If it is my idea then it can’t possibly be good.

We’ve also reached the wonderful world of tantrums. Not that Chloe didn’t throw tantrums before, she did and sometimes they were doosies, but now EVERYTHING is a tantrum. She definitely has her own agenda, and she is not willing to let me lead or guide her away from it. I am getting tired of the fits when I move her away from a swing in motion, or try to put a sweater on her because its cold. Last night was kind of funny because it was John’s turn to put her to bed, and she wanted mommy to do it, so she was throwing a fit. John had to carry her up the stairs an arms length away because she was kicking. He got up to the top of the stairs and said to her, “Say night night to mommy.” And calmly as if it were nothing, she said, “Bye bye, Mommy,” and the fit was over.

I know that even with the fits and the contrariness, she is still a really good little girl. The problem I have is that I have not yet adapted to her new behaviors. I haven’t figured out the tricks and the methods to calming her down so that we can both get what we want. I don’t have any doubt that I will figure it out, I just hope I can do it before she moves on to the next phase.