Girlfriends, they don't call it the terrible twos for nothing.
Since my daughter turned two and a half, I've had my fair share of tantrum taming. (And my own share of tantrums! And wine drinking, but that's a whole other Oprah!) I've even violated my own (not so) strict policy: Never negotiate with this terrorist that has taken over my toddler's body. (Let's just say I find Goldfish to be very affective.)
So, while I am most definitely losing this battle, I have promised myself that I will. not. lose. this. war.
But having said all of that, this is my war to lose, right? My toddler to tame? My life?
So if this is the case, why does Mrs. Susie Q Stranger feel she can insert her two cents as she looks at me with her wide patronizing eyes while I'm bribing offering my daughter those famous little cheddar crackers so she won't climb out of the cart and say, I'm sooooo glad those days are over!
I don't know. There's just something about that statement that gets under my skin. While I'm sure it's meant as a "I'm a mom too so let me tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel" moment, it rubs me the wrong way.
So here's my two cents. This woman doesn't know me. She doesn't know my daughter. And she most definitely doesn't know how hard it was for me to get pregnant. She doesn't understand that while this terrible two thing is something I bitch about (yes, Liz has fielded many calls) it's something I laugh about even more. The thing is, I'm not looking to fast forward the clock (that's already moving so quickly) to a time when I know I'll have a whole other set of challenges--like when my daughter transforms into an eye-rolling teen who wants to be with her friends 24/7. And after my daughter is grown and out of the house and I witness a mother and her teen going four rounds over how short a prom dress should be, I won't say to her, I'm sooo glad those days are over.
I'll take this time. The good, the bad and the ugly. Because I know it goes by "like that." I may be my toddler's hostage now but I'll be back in command soon enough! #famouslastwords
(PS: She says she will free me if I cancel all naps, all bedtimes and all attempts to help do anything! Or simply send Cinderella anything and she says she'll let me go...#pleasehelp)
What about you guys? Does it bother you when strangers make remarks? And did your kids go through this too? #makemefeelbetter