Toddler V Parent #2

At the end of the month my little munchkin will turn 2, the phrase “time flys when your having fun” pops into my head but I think it needs some revision, maybe “time flys when your having tantrums” as this is currently my life! I wrote a post last year called Toddler V Parent and recently the battle is back on, so I thought why not do round 2.

I’ve almost got used to the tantrums, but the main issue at the moment is communication. Phoebe has always been very vocal and expressive so when her first words starting coming, it meant she could really tell me what she wanted or more to the point what she didn’t want. Fast forward a few months and you can’t shut her up, it’s so funny hearing her voice properly. Always waving to people on the bus, saying bye bye as they get off, and shouting “gooooo” when we stop at the lights and she’ll normally make some little old dears day with her cheeky charm and chat. Sometimes we get looks as I’m singing “wheels on the bus (actions and all) but it keeps her happy (most of the time) and to be honest I couldn’t really give a toss what people think.

Singing loudly with her Peppa Pig microphone

Phoebe is at that development stage again, where she can’t quite say and do all the things she would like to, so keeps reverting back to this weepy whining to get her own way and then if she still doesn’t get her own way will either

1. Throw a huge paddy, with tears/foot stamping
2. Get angry, throw things or throw thing at me
3. Shout “Nannnnaaa” really loud
4. Or all of the above

Next up we have the mountain goat climber. She literally will climb anything and everything,  anywhere and then insist on “no help” when she is clearly stuck. Her favourite is climbing onto the coffee table, then she’ll shimmy herself on the window ledge like some sort of ninja, it’s scary stuff policing a toddler all day and the climbing is a constant battle!

Mountain goat in action

We had a bad incident a few days ago that resulted in a cut lip. Phoebe is up and down the chairs like a fricken yoyo, so I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. She took a lunge/dive straight off the chair and onto her face, 2 big teeth marks on her bottom lip, lots of blood and tears…just what you need during teething right!?

Cleaning is something that Phoebe finds fascinating, obviously she’s picked it up from watching me cleaning the house (occasionally the anti bac wipes come out) and will be quite firm in letting me know she wants to help out. I don’t think she’s quite understood the whole cleaning or laundry yet.

Singing loudly with her Peppa Pig mic

Here’s a little list of Phoebes current cleaning trends I wouldn’t try at home

• Taking daddy pigs clean socks off the clothes horse and declaring them yucky before throwing them into the bin.

• Picking up any object and launching it into the sink followed by screaming “clean”

• Deciding the clothes need a little more cleaning, so changing the dial (I forgot the child lock) on the washing machine.

• Helping with the dusting by shaking the large fluffy duster,the more shit that comes off it the better, apparently!

• Sweeping up is generally carried out by running up and down (do I do this?) with broom then getting it stuck in the door mat, falling over onto broom, broom is taken off her. End of sweeping.

• Window cleaning is a daily task for feebs, she feels is best to attack them with sticky hands preferably after eating an orange or raspberries, as this really gets the best results.

When Phoebe is eating it’s pretty much the only time she sits still (apart from banging her feet to make a loud noise!) this is of because she’s strapped down happily chomping away. However over the last few weeks she’s not been so keen on the chair, is wriggling around loads, flipping her head back doing her giraffe impression, and eating it seems has become more of a playtime. Crushing what used to be her favourite crisps into dust is the new trick, proceeded by rubbing it into her eyes, hair and then getting annoyed, it’s a viscous circle. I think it’s partly down to her molar coming through, so lots of smoothies and fruit at her request.

Won’t sit still ever!

Hand holding is another hot topic with Phoebe. The stroller is now her nemesis as she loves to walk and is great on her feet, however she hates holding hands. I have the toddler ladybird Little Tikes backpack & reins which is going okay, but she just won’t listen and is always making an attempt to dart across a busy main road. This situation always ends up with her back in the buggy (eventually) after a temper tantrum and normally some form of bribe from me, Nanna or crisps will often do it!

There are many more of Phoebe’s toddler-isms I could mention and yes parenting right now feels like a constant battle but even after a tough day policing my crazy, fearless Phoebe around I wouldn’t change it for the world. My munchkin is turning into a very socialable, confident little girl. I love watching her grow and master new skills,she is constantly making me and everyone around her giggle, so I must be doing something right.

Do you feel like your always battling with your kids? What’s the one sentence you have to repeat hundreds of times a day, tell me I’m not alone in this!?

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