Survival

This week has been a challenging one for me.  I have been filled with so many thoughts of self doubt and insecurity on my ability to successfully raise these two *amazing* kids.  A lot of these thoughts and worries stem from my sheer exhaustion (both physical and mental).  J is in the throws of the "terrible twos" (not that I want to put a label on the behavior, or him), and it seems every little thing lately sets him off on a temper tantrum.  The vast majority of these tantrums stem from his inability to effectively communicate his wants and his desire (and perceived need) to control the current situation and the world around him.  The biggest battles lately are centered around nap time and bed time (and him not wanting to go to sleep).  That's not to say that we don't have other battles throughout the day - but those are usually avoided by staying active (which isn't easy with the summer heat we have).

During A's nap on Monday, we filled the water table and turned on the home splash-pad for some outdoor play.  It's so hard to give each of the kids one-on-one time throughout the day, but they both need it, as do I.  For now, A's morning nap is the perfect opportunity to give the little man some quality one-on-one time.  After we had had enough sun, we headed inside where J proceeded to spend 15 minutes putting Gunnar to sleep, complete with "tucking him in" with an orange hand towel.

After both the kids had woken up from their respective afternoon naps (the ones I almost always try to make happen at the same time so that I get some much needed quiet time, and usually a shower), we headed back outside for some more water play, this time with A.  She's fearless when it comes to the water, and loves it just as much, if not more than J.

After dinner it was upstairs for bath and story time with Daddy!

Tuesday after Justin and I got home from work, and the kids were up from their naps, we again went outside for some water table fun (noticing a trend here? Staying inside is making this mama crazy, but water must be involved if we are going to spend any time outside).  J even shared his tricycle with A!  Then it was back inside for some dinner.  After dinner J helped me make some rice crispy treats (and eat them of course)

Wednesday morning Justin took J to the movies and grocery shopping while A and I napped (J may have gotten up at 2 in the morning, and may have spent the rest of the evening in our bed….which means that he and Justin slept GREAT…but me on the other hand, not so much).  Afterwards it was full on play time till nap time.  J doesn't seem to be needing the pool noodles we put under his mattress pad as a barrier to keep him from falling out of bed at night, so we removed one and turned it into a hoop.  He likes to try and get the beach ball through the hoop…and ringing mom, dad and A too...

Thursday when I got home from work, it was an all out Play-doh afternoon.  Everyone got in on the action.  Then, before dinner, J had to drive his jeep back to the garage (he and Justin had brought it out earlier in the day during A's morning nap).

Friday was a relatively good day.  We played around during the day, then after nap time we went over to Grandma's house.  Grandma had returned some items to a local store for me (but one that is on her side of town that I rarely have the time to get to) and then spent the store credit on the kids while she was there (so I wouldn't have to make a trip up there to do so).  She picked up a few outfits for A, and some socks and underwear for J.  You would have thought this kid won the lottery.  We showed him the underwear and he immediately demanded that they go on.  These aren't just any old undies, they are Thomas the Train undies.  Upon seeing them he began begging me to take his shoes, shorts, and shirt off.  He then demanded that I put a pair on him.  Don't get me wrong, this kid is no where near ready for potty training, so the undies went on over his diaper.  Then he demanded that the next pair get put on too.  Not wanting to start a fight or witness a tantrum over a pair of undies, I obliged (but I also hid the third and final pair…otherwise he'd have wanted them on too).  So for the remainder of the day, J walked around in nothing but socks, a diaper, and two pairs of Thomas the Train undies.  And yes, that night after bath time, instead of jammies, he only wanted to wear a pair of socks and a pair of undies - who am I to say no.

After some of the evenings earlier in the week, Friday night made me feel like I knew what I was doing, like I could handle these kids, and that I was doing an OK job.  Sure, we had a few melt downs on Friday (it wouldn't be a normal day without them). But bedtime was amazing.  It was like the bedtimes I remember.  Some how, I had managed to get BOTH kids IN BED, and quiet FOR THE NIGHT but 8PM - on my own!!!!  Friday night was what I needed to boost my confidence as a mom.

Saturday was quiet.  A and I played lots of peek-a-boo, and sang lots of songs.  J went to Sport Ball with Justin (yes, we made sure he was fully clothed before leaving the house, don't worry - but the undies were still on; under his shorts and over his diaper - we may need to buy more).  The rest of the day was spent playing and warding off as many temper tantrums as possible.  Saturday night was the complete opposite of Friday night.  Lots of melt downs, and lots of tears, and the house wasn't quiet before 930.  You win some you lose some...

Today was a good day.  We didn't make it to church, but we did survive and with only a few melt downs.  After breakfast J wanted to play with the Play-doh, then the pipe cleaners, and then the puzzles.  And yes, even as I type this, all the parts and pieces are still strewn about the kitchen and living room… I'll get on that when I'm done here.  I may have even made some masking tape train tracks on the couch for J during A's nap.  Anything to keep the kid happy and entertained until she woke up.  Then it was off to Grandma's to watch the World Cup game and swim in the pool.  Neither kid had their afternoon nap, but both stayed in very good moods throughout the time there.  They both crashed out in the car on the way home too.  We made it through dinner and bath time before Justin got home from work.  And both kids are currently in bed and quiet (and have been since 745 - WIN!)

The days are long and challenging, but the rewards are out of this world.  I pray to God each day for the gifts He's given me with these two and their daddy.  And ask Him for his guidance and for a little more patience each day.  While there will always be good days and bad days (and even when the bad days seem to out number the good ones), the good days will always outweigh the bad days.

Here's to a new week!