RE: Terrible Two's

[Guest guest]

AND SOON COMES THE TERRIFIC THREE'S :):0

enjoy ALL THAT SPIRIT!! It will be needed & enjoyed as the years change to

3, 4 ,5, 10, 15, 16, etc. Sounds like a really smart kid. right now hehehe)

LOVE & HUGS, grandmomBEV

been there ---done that ....lots ---------------

Terrible Two's

,

Sorry to hear Madeline Jayne has hit the " terrible two's " early.

I have heard that it only lasts a year then the cutie pie stage hits for a

few years.

Seems most kids go thru a bad stage some time in their young life. Loot at

it this way---you are getting hers now and will hopefully have smooth

sailing

after this phase ends.

Well, at least until she hits the teen years! LOL

Someone once reassured my Mom -- with 3 teens -- that they become human

again

after they turn 20!

Good luck!

Love,

Aunt B

p.s. do you have lots of nerve pills for your Mom??????

[Guest guest]

and Sara,

I have this awful confession. When I read the letter about Madeline's

terrible two's -- I was dying with laughter! I could just see every

pout and hear her high-pitched " NoOOoooOOO! " and I could picture this

little spitfire taking off with that classic diapered-toddler waddle.

And then trying to picture a toddler signing a defiant " No! " Well,

let's just say you guys really made my night last night!

One of the psychologists I worked with (he also had a specialty in

child psychology) told me these stages actually hit mid-birth year,

such as 18 mths, 2 1/2, 4 1/2, etc. But never had those terrible

times! He really was a perfect child.

But oh, was a different story! There weren't really terrible

tantrums, but she was very inquisitive and started walking at 8

months, so I had to have your eye on her every second.

And she was (and still is) so stubborn! She did as she pleased and

even though she didn't say it, you could see it in her eyes: " I hear

you but I'm not listening! " I know when she's stopped listening; I'll

say, " Stop rolling your eyes at me. " She says, " I'm not! " But I

know she's learned how to roll her eyes at me without rolling her

eyes, if that makes any sense.

You should have seen the fight just to get the standard TB tine test

before kindergarten! After fifteen minutes of explanations, pleading,

bargaining, bribing, squirming, kicking, screaming and strained

muscles -- it was over. The nurse and I were drenched in our own

sweat, just hopped off my lap, looked surprised and said,

" Well, that didn't hurt at all. "

The nurse just chuckled, shook her head, and said, " , if anyone

tries to kidnap you, that's how hard you fight, okay? "

Whenever she'd pout, you could've perched a bird on her bottom lip.

When reprimanding her, her lower lip would quiver and her big ol'

green eyes would fill with tears. We should have named her Scarlett

O'Hara!

When I'd put her on the little wooden stool in the time out corner,

she'd just sing and tell herself stories to pass the time. I couldn't

put her in her bedroom for time out, because she'd just play, sing,

read -- it was a haven.

And just about the time I'd be ready to pull out my hair, something

would happen and would step up to the plate, letting me know

she was paying attention all along. Intrinsically, her soul knows the

vital role she plays in the family. She's the counterbalance to CF.

I've learned so much from both my children.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you recognized you'd rather

have Madeline's energy put into terrible two's than anything

CF-related. Just channel that energy into something constructive --

get her a soccer ball and practice those gross motor skills.

With , starting dance lessons at age 3 1/2 was a real blessing

-- it channeled that endless energy, taught her focus and the value of

discipline. She's still dancing -- and teaching dance -- and loves it.

It's not only her gift and passion, but her therapy when times are

rough.

And life comes full circle: last year had a 5-year old student

with ADHD. would call me every Thursday as she drove home from

teaching, all bubbly with stories from her class -- and especially

this little girl. I was so proud of how was handling the

situation and the compassion she felt for the girl, even though

was often really frustrated.

Finally, midyear the mom put the girl on a med and they saw

improvement, but there were times she'd come to class and it was

obvious she hadn't had her meds. But persevered, and whenever

she'd have to reprimand the girl she said it just broke her heart

because she new the child really wanted to do well and please her.

Last week, called all excited, she'd just come from a faculty

meeting and learned she'd have this student again. said

(the studio owner) was apologetic, knowing the girl was a real handful

but said, " Oh! I was hoping I'd get her again! " She said

was shocked but told her she thinks it will be better for the

girl to have consistency and the girl already knows 's

expectations. My eyes got all teary with pride.

Could this be my daughter? The one I used to frantically chase through

department stores, the one who hid her chewable vitamins under the

leaves of the dining table, the toddler whose playtime was a mission

of " search and destroy. " The one who hopped fully clothed with shoes

on into her brother's bath one night because by god, she wanted a bath

too?

Yes, my daughter. The one who sometimes packed my lunches after I

packed hers, writing love notes on the outside of my lunch bag. The

one who would crawl up on the bed and read next to me when I had a

migraine... The one who'd interrupt my evening studies with tea and

cookies in the china tea set we picked out together.

....And the one who taught her friends one night at camp that the moon

is always up there even when you don't see it, you just have to trust

it's there, " because my mom taught me. "

So stay calm, consistent, smile and channel that energy. You just have

to trust that your little toddlers will make you proud... even when

you don't see it now.

Kim

[Guest guest]

Kim,

You always know how to put things into perspective for me. It is

hard to imagine that Zach will ever be anything but my little boy.

I can see Zach hiding his vitamins someday. He already hides the tv

remote in really strange places.

Kids do grow up though and with any luck my little Zach will be a

wonderful adult like your kids.

Sara

> and Sara,

>

> I have this awful confession. When I read the letter about

Madeline's

> terrible two's -- I was dying with laughter! I could just see

every

> pout and hear her high-pitched " NoOOoooOOO! " and I could picture

this

> little spitfire taking off with that classic diapered-toddler

waddle.

>

> And then trying to picture a toddler signing a defiant " No! " Well,

> let's just say you guys really made my night last night!

>

> One of the psychologists I worked with (he also had a specialty in

> child psychology) told me these stages actually hit mid-birth

year,

> such as 18 mths, 2 1/2, 4 1/2, etc. But never had those

terrible

> times! He really was a perfect child.

>

> But oh, was a different story! There weren't really

terrible

> tantrums, but she was very inquisitive and started walking at 8

> months, so I had to have your eye on her every second.

>

> And she was (and still is) so stubborn! She did as she pleased and

> even though she didn't say it, you could see it in her eyes: " I

hear

> you but I'm not listening! " I know when she's stopped listening;

I'll

> say, " Stop rolling your eyes at me. " She says, " I'm not! " But I

> know she's learned how to roll her eyes at me without rolling her

> eyes, if that makes any sense.

>

> You should have seen the fight just to get the standard TB tine

test

> before kindergarten! After fifteen minutes of explanations,

pleading,

> bargaining, bribing, squirming, kicking, screaming and strained

> muscles -- it was over. The nurse and I were drenched in our own

> sweat, just hopped off my lap, looked surprised and said,

> " Well, that didn't hurt at all. "

>

> The nurse just chuckled, shook her head, and said, " , if

anyone

> tries to kidnap you, that's how hard you fight, okay? "

>

> Whenever she'd pout, you could've perched a bird on her bottom

lip.

> When reprimanding her, her lower lip would quiver and her big ol'

> green eyes would fill with tears. We should have named her

Scarlett

> O'Hara!

>

> When I'd put her on the little wooden stool in the time out

corner,

> she'd just sing and tell herself stories to pass the time. I

couldn't

> put her in her bedroom for time out, because she'd just play,

sing,

> read -- it was a haven.

>

> And just about the time I'd be ready to pull out my hair,

something

> would happen and would step up to the plate, letting me

know

> she was paying attention all along. Intrinsically, her soul knows

the

> vital role she plays in the family. She's the counterbalance to

CF.

> I've learned so much from both my children.

>

> I think you hit the nail on the head when you recognized you'd

rather

> have Madeline's energy put into terrible two's than anything

> CF-related. Just channel that energy into something constructive --

> get her a soccer ball and practice those gross motor skills.

>

> With , starting dance lessons at age 3 1/2 was a real

blessing

> -- it channeled that endless energy, taught her focus and the

value of

> discipline. She's still dancing -- and teaching dance -- and loves

it.

> It's not only her gift and passion, but her therapy when times are

> rough.

>

> And life comes full circle: last year had a 5-year old

student

> with ADHD. would call me every Thursday as she drove home

from

> teaching, all bubbly with stories from her class -- and especially

> this little girl. I was so proud of how was handling the

> situation and the compassion she felt for the girl, even though

> was often really frustrated.

>

> Finally, midyear the mom put the girl on a med and they saw

> improvement, but there were times she'd come to class and it was

> obvious she hadn't had her meds. But persevered, and

whenever

> she'd have to reprimand the girl she said it just broke her heart

> because she new the child really wanted to do well and please her.

>

> Last week, called all excited, she'd just come from a

faculty

> meeting and learned she'd have this student again. said

> (the studio owner) was apologetic, knowing the girl was a real

handful

> but said, " Oh! I was hoping I'd get her again! " She said

> was shocked but told her she thinks it will be better for

the

> girl to have consistency and the girl already knows 's

> expectations. My eyes got all teary with pride.

>

> Could this be my daughter? The one I used to frantically chase

through

> department stores, the one who hid her chewable vitamins under the

> leaves of the dining table, the toddler whose playtime was a

mission

> of " search and destroy. " The one who hopped fully clothed with

shoes

> on into her brother's bath one night because by god, she wanted a

bath

> too?

>

> Yes, my daughter. The one who sometimes packed my lunches after I

> packed hers, writing love notes on the outside of my lunch bag.

The

> one who would crawl up on the bed and read next to me when I had a

> migraine... The one who'd interrupt my evening studies with tea

and

> cookies in the china tea set we picked out together.

>

> ...And the one who taught her friends one night at camp that the

moon

> is always up there even when you don't see it, you just have to

trust

> it's there, " because my mom taught me. "

>

> So stay calm, consistent, smile and channel that energy. You just

have

> to trust that your little toddlers will make you proud... even

when

> you don't see it now.

>

> Kim

[Guest guest]

I think my son at 4 has been the most challenging ever. I think that I

will skip that year with my little Colgan.

Ashauna mom to 2 Maxwel almost 5 thank god and Colgan 7 months wcf

[Guest guest]

Kim,

That was a beautiful story of your little girl. Well not so little

now but great memories.

My children are both young still but I dream of the day that they are

off and on their own, and I just pray that I am able to instill values

into them that make them beautiful young men just like your daughter

sounds.

When you talked about her pouting lip and eyes filling up with

tears all I could think about was my youngest 7 months ( Colgan ) cf.

He has the best pouting face. Big lip and eyes gust filled with tears

the second that he is upset.

Thanks for the great story

Ashauna mom of 2 Maxwel almost 5 and Colgan 7 months.

[Guest guest]

,

sounds like you have quite the character running loops around you

and your husband. How sweet.

Ashauna mom to Maxwel almost 5 and Colgan 7 months wcf