Toddler Tryouts and Preschool Pouts

I was up before 6 am this morning. Not of my own choice, but rather forced out of bed by bouncing children who have awoken before their designated time (which I have realistically set as 9am). It took every ounce of strength to not grimace my way through this morning... and a very strong cup of coffee. But alas, I have made it past the point of no return, I am officially awake and have decided to waste away my morning writing. 

Malakai is now 20 months. At this delicate age, they are not really a baby, and not yet a toddler. He has entered the dreaded stage of "toddler tryouts". With all of my children so far, this has by far been the worst stage of them all. They are too young to have a lot of the understanding needed, you cannot explain things to them, they throw fits and tantrums and there just is not a lot you can do about it. Oh, don't get me wrong, there is no way I will let my son just sit there and scream, he immediately goes in his crib. However, after three rounds, I have come to the conclusion that no matter what you do, no matter how consistent you are, it is still a stage that they have to go through. The difficulty presented with this age is that it is nearly impossible to carry on with a normal life. Nap time becomes a thing of strict necessity. You are housebound as going out inevitably procures an "episode" for all to see and judge. Trying to get ANYTHING done around the house is impossible. Every few minutes they are there wanting your attention, needing you, but not wanting you. Up, down, up, down, pushing you away, clawing at your legs. It is a catch 22, and I feel terrible for him, but much more so I feel terrible for me. Talking to Jonathan the other day, I decided that I don't need time away as a break, I need the kids to LEAVE for a day! I need to be able to clean my house top to bottom once a week without a million interruptions. I need to be able to have it stay clean for just one day, not destroyed the second I turn my back.  Possible? I don't know, but I aim to find out.

Caleb and Selah have graduated from toddlerhood and entered the "preschool pouts". There are days I feel that the whining will kill me. It never ends. NEVER ENDS. Whining, crying, pouting, sobbing, weeping, emotions that don't cease or have an expiry. The only time all three children are happy at one time is when they are sleeping. They love each other sometimes, hate each other the rest of the time. They feed off each others emotions, where one was perfectly happy they start wailing or won't eat or don't want the babysitter because the other one throws a fit. My house is like a giant game of dominos, what one starts, they all must follow suit. 

But all of this is manageable, the one that kills me is food. At least (at this is no feeble exaggeration) 50 times a day, I hear (in the whiniest voice possible) "I'm so hungry". No joke, I will feed them a massive lunch, 3 eggs each, cheese, cucumber, juice, etc. etc. etc. and within 5 minutes of getting down I will hear "but I'm soooooo hungry mom". I am so sick of it, I have tried denying them to which they start weeping uncontrollably about their hunger, you would think I starve them. Finally, so fed up with Caleb I told him if he was that hungry he could have a carrot. He just about leapt with happiness. I still haven't decided if they truly are hungry or just bored, I am sure half of it is boredom. But the fact that they will eat a carrot or celery stick makes me continue to feed them. And so it is, that I spend my entire day preparing food and cleaning it up, and once it is clean, I prepare more food. And the cycle continues. 

Once again, I am managing to waste my entire morning with sitting at the computer so I am going to log off. But to all you mothers out there with the "toddler tryouts" and "preschool pouts" I raise my cup of coffee to you and take a large gulp. Brew a strong batch this morning, you're gonna need it! ;)