Mommy Needs a Meltdown

Why can’t I have a meltdown?

This is something I often wonder when I watch Stella, who is almost 3 years old, emotionally crumble when something doesn’t go her way.
 The "terrible twos" stage continues. The other day I watched her sob uncontrollably in a hunched over position after she learned that there were only orange popsicles left in the freezer.

Sometimes I want to hunch over and sob uncontrollably over things. Times in our household are not easy since we closed our retail store down at the end of last year. This has hit our pocketbooks, and our savings, which meant to supplement my income during child care leave, is dwindling away faster than we hoped.

Why can’t I just have one little meltdown?

My Meltdown Prevention Program -
finishing a half marathon last Sunday

In a world where being emotionally stable is a must, I wonder how others get through the tough times. As a parent, it is so important to model emotions in a healthy way. We need to teach our children how to be resilient and handle disappointment and frustration with a grain of salt. But sometimes, don’t we just want to scream at the top of our lungs?

I rarely cry. I keep it inside and let it build up until it eventually explodes. It maybe explodes once a year. Since our store has closed, perhaps a little more frequently.

Parents are supposed to be the “strong ones” and that just makes it even more important for us to have an outlet. Something we can do or someplace we can go to let it all out.

For me it is running. The one thing I can do on my own, in silence, alone with my thoughts. We all need a place like that. It keeps me from going into meltdown mode … most of the time.

The Sass Mouth

I always knew the time would come. I had been fairly warned but like many unknown things, I did not know what to expect. It has reared its feisty and sometimes amusing head.the sass mouth.

When I found out that we were having a girl, I knew that I had a lot of sassiness coming my way. Being a seventh grade teacher, I was afraid.

Just shy of Stella's second birthday, a guest has arrived in our house and has fully unpacked her bags; the sass mouth. I don't know where she came from or what powers the phrases she spurts but it is shocking.and sometimes just down right funny.

I should have known it was coming one day, not too long ago, when I was reading a text on my phone. Stella put her hand in my way and said, "No phone, mommy." The rest soon followed.

I am very proud of my daughter. One of the things that most amazes me is the extension of her quick growing vocabulary. I am aware that she is in a mimicking phase (and for this I have to be most cautious) which I know is a contributing factor.

On her current list of sassy things to say we have "Please stop" as well as "Move please" and my personal favorite "Stop talking please." At least she is polite. This is often accompanied with a hand in the face, a judging look down her nose or a furrowed brow.

I have been putting some heavy thought into what exactly my reaction is supposed to be. Is this time to discipline or talk about "nice" and "not nice" things to say? Is there anything wrong with her being able to express herself, especially is she is saying it in a polite way? I know at day care, they are learning to stand up for themselves. Is this a part of her being able to stand up and speak for herself?

The other night, she hit her head because she was crawling under the table. I had told her not to, of course but she didn't listen (she is almost two, why would she?) When she cried because she had hit her head, I told her that it was her own fault and that was why it is important to listen to mommy. Stella simply looked at me and replied, "It's mommy's fault." Sometimes I just have to laugh out loud.

I have a feeling it is going to be a long next ten years. Ok, maybe fifteen.

How can someone so cute be so sassy?

Temper Tantrums Terror

When it rains it pours. Stella was sick all last week. Apparently she had another mysterious virus that did nothing but cause her to have a high fever all week. Keeping her home allowed her to be better by yesterday, but another damage had been done.

I don't know how many of you have your child in a day care, school, etc., but I have noticed the longer she stays home with mommy and daddy, the more unruly she gets.

A few weeks ago, unruly simply meant that she took longer to follow directions, turned her selective on a little more often, gave me a little more sass than normal. Whether it be for vacation or illness, the time spent at home seemed to make Stella slightly off.

Stella being off now is a whole other story. Somehow the "terrible twos" has crept up on us like a tornado. The last two days has been spent with screaming, shouting, kicking, and hitting. I am well aware that Stella still doesn't feel completely back to normal but I want to know where my little angel went.

As if being home with a sick child wasn't hard enough, the hubby and I both now have the flu. Our patience is a little thin and these temper tantrums have really put us to the test.

Aside from putting Stella in a "time out" spot, I can't figure out what else to do. This morning she woke up throwing a nice little fit that lasted 45 min. I read that when I child is sick, teaching them behavior best be put on hold, but I just can't take it. It is ridiculous. And apparently normal.

What are the tricks? Am I doing the right thing my making her sit until she calms down? Is this simply from being away from her normal routine or is this the start of a long few months?

I need help and fast. I about to go bald from pulling my hair out.

Where, oh where, has my little angel gone?

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