Trying not to use the word terrible

Grace and I made yummy valentines

Grace's treat was a date with daddy at the pool

So Grace has basically been a piece of cake from day one. With the exceptions of some very minor rough patches being her mom has been what I would consider fairly smooth. Being a mother is never easy, but being Grace's mom has been the closest too I think you can get. Now Grace if you read this someday, know that even during this somewhat turbulent little phase we may be going through that you are still precious, lovely and a true joy to mother and to be around, I love you and you are beautiful inside and out! -- that being said, I need a drink and I can't have one!!!

I have never liked the term terrible two's. It brings to mind paint on walls, watches in the toilet, and the roles of parent and toddler reversed to the point that mom is sitting in the corner crying by the time dad gets home from work. Well our walls are still white and I don't wear a watch, but the last one has nearly come true, when last week I had to go in the bathroom shut the door and just cry so that I wouldn't totally loose it. I am sure what we are going through could be minimal compared to what others have had to go through, my family doesn't know whether or not to believe that we are even going through a "rough" patch because Grace is in general still quite the gem when we are out or with relatives. However, lately we have had days where the whining doesn't seem to stop, where she says the same word (something she wants like milk) over and over and over and over until she gets it or (finally I've learned) I simply walk away and wait till she's done (which still lasts up to ten minutes!!!) She's hitting, kicking and screaming and sometimes she completely has no idea what she wants and just cries until she gets it! (confused? me too). I remember in my childhood adolescence class that we learned that both in the toddler and teen years alike the frontal cortex of a child grows which causes them to make poor decisions and to be quite emotional. And our frontal cortex is surely growing, and every day, sometimes every hour I have to remember that 1. this is a phase and 2. she is not out to ruin me. It has also caused me to refine my parenting skills, things like when I say I'm going to enforce a certain consequence I actually need to do it, and that she really is a smart girl, I don't have to repeat my instructions a hundred times, she hears me so if she doesn't follow them she's in time out - or whatever. I am learning A LOT. To be consistent, to be loving, and to forget and forgive, after the time out or the "sorry mommy" to be positive and loving and to change the subject!

She is still kind and sweet, I think I am just really struggling with the fact that we are like always disciplining her and I feel like there are less good and loving moments, it doesn't feel good at the end of the day! But I've concluded that we just need to be consistent in both the rules and our love, and the three of us will make it out alive!

(I apologize if this sounded so dramatic but it was my blog therapy for the day, and I feel a little better! )

p.s I posted some pics of our valentines day!