Has anyone besides me noticed that taking care of a two-year-old is like hanging out with a friend who’s had one too many drinks? Seriously, the similarities are striking. They both have little control over their bladder or bowels, they run away when you aren’t holding their hand, and they’re suspiciously fond of spinning around in clumsy circles.
I think this is what’s so maddening about having a two-year-old. If you had to take care of an inebriated friend 24 hours a day, you’d probably consider finding another crowd to run with. I find this age to be as exhausting, if not more so, than having a newborn. At no other time am I more worn to the bone than when I’m trying to pluck my laughing child from the middle of the clothing rack at the store.
Then there’s the never-ending deluge of questions. I have no justifiable right to be annoyed by this, as it’s the mechanism by which children learn about life. But seriously, how curious can one person be? Sometimes I’m so tired of hearing the word “Mom” by the end of the day that I ask my toddler to call me by my first name.
Another challenge is the choice of children’s programming available, which can make this stage even more difficult for a parent. Some characters are whiny and needy, while others are miniature dictators who shout a constant stream of commands at your child. And they’re all so politically correct and educational now. When I was a kid, we witnessed our hapless cartoon characters run through one plotless episode after another. Ah, the good old days. Who doesn’t miss seeing an animated rooster get gratuitously bludgeoned with a frying pan every now and then?
Dealing with Tantrums
Of course, you can’t talk about the terrible twos without mentioning tantrums. Fortunately, they’re easier to deal with than their reputation suggests. Make sure your child is out of harm’s way and ignore the behavior. After all, they’re just trying to get your attention and bully you into giving in. I can’t get too mad at my two-year-old for this behavior, because I still have tantrums every now and then myself.
Toddlers also have a tough time sharing. My two-year-old thinks she owns every movable object on the planet. This has become a challenge, especially since her sister, who is just 22 months younger, is also developing this same trait. I guess I “should have thought about that before having two kids in diapers,” as my father-in-law would say. Love that guy.
I’m not sure if all two-year-olds are like this, but mine is very indecisive. Nothing drives a mom crazier than a kid who can’t make up her mind. I love it when it takes half an hour for my daughter to decide if she wants PB&J or grilled cheese for lunch. Then, when I serve it to her, she loudly protests and claims she wanted the other option. I’ve gained about 20 pounds eating her lunchtime rejects since I hate to waste food.
The most trying part of having a toddler—besides the tantrums—is potty training. There are many methods out there for teaching your child to use the toilet, and most of them require having a can of carpet cleaner at the ready. I’ve never been a fan of the birthday suit method, as we are a modest family, but I also don’t like the “put-them-in-underwear-cold-turkey” method. This leaves me with the only method I’ve tried (having potty-trained one kid so far in my mothering career)—buying the diapers that masquerade as underwear and cost twice as much as regular diapers. Kids are smart, but most aren’t intelligent enough to notice the difference between regular diapers and potty-training diapers. In the end, I think kids start using the toilet when they’re ready, regardless of which method you choose to train them with.
Some moms who can’t handle the terrible twos are relieved to know that sending your little prince or princess to preschool is an option. There’s something almost magical about preschool teachers who seem to find two-year-olds delightful in every way. I wish I could have some of that magic. There’s nothing to feel guilty about when choosing to send your toddler to preschool. My daughter started getting bored at home all day, and I certainly can’t spend every spare moment entertaining her. Plus, I’m a mean mom who doesn’t allow messy toys like clay, paint, or markers, so she can get her fill of that stuff at preschool.
Not everything about being two is terrible. Kids this age have many wonderful qualities. I love that my daughter still has chubby cheeks and baby fat but the vocabulary of a kindergartner. Of course, that vocabulary is spoken in the endearing way only a toddler can. The letter “l” is replaced with “y” and “v” with “b,” and of course, their innocence causes them to say the funniest things to others and their imaginary friends. I also enjoy watching her play and create imaginary universes in which the crayon-people live out hilarious scenarios that she doesn’t realize I’m witnessing.
The terrible twos are just a short, albeit trying, time in raising a child. Being a parent is like opening a gift each new day. You are presented with an undiscovered aspect of your child’s personality and will sometimes be surprised, occasionally disappointed, but usually delighted. The most terrible part of having a two-year-old is that they won’t always be that age. They will grow up faster than you could ever imagine, sprout their wings, fly away, and you’ll miss that chubby-cheeked terror who daily tried your patience.
