Toddler Mood Swings

Seriously what is it about the 3s? This is a CRAZY age. If we're not having a battle of wills over everything including eating, drinking, napping, (and yes I know you're not suppose to argue with a toddler but dammit it's hard not to sometimes) then he's running around like a speed freak screaming and bouncing like a Popple and I'm like "WTH? Who gave you crack kiddo?"

I mean I understand this is where they exert their independence which is fine. I NEVER wanted a clinger (a Mama's boy if you will) simply because well I'm gonna sound sexist but I want a tough boy. I think of the term overly sensitive when it comes to boys and think of the Brendan Frasier from Bedazzled. Yeah. Seriously? Who wants that? Not that I want Trio to be a bully but I do not want a scrape you get from falling on the sidewalk to end in hysterics that makes an observer think he broke a bone.

But man this independence is kicking in hardcore. Not to mention the greed. Mine mine mine. With our friends toys!! We were at a birthday party last weekend and I had to remove him TWICE because he wanted to get all the balls for himself and not share with the other kids there and I'm like "Dude. The kids here are sharing with YOU!! It's not even your toy is it really worth it to throw this fit over it?"

TWICE people. TWICE. Usually removing him ONCE is more than enough but twice? Ay yi yi And we fight about eating. I'm a mom who makes her kids eats something she knows they hate. It drove me crazy growing up that my family would plop greens and spinach and cabbage on my plate after I had tried it knowing I didn't like. It drove me crazy and when I was younger I saw Crooklyn and the sign where the mom made him eat the black eyed peas to the point where he threw up on the plate and I'm like "Yeah I don't want that." So I offer him mac and cheese but I never make him eat it (yeah I know I get the weird one that doesn't like mac and cheese).

But when I put things in front of him that I know he likes and he doesn't he's just being stubborn and a pain in the patootie and that's when I get upset. And because I'm me I talk to him like a little person and am like "Seriously kid? I don't make you eat things you hate. You LIKE this now EAT it." And then he stares at me with the stubborn set to his face that is a smaller version of my angry face and all I think is "Thank God you're not a girl because puberty would suck for all in the Nieto household."

And then there's the sugar high and I don't know how he gets it but he'll randomly start running around the house, bouncing up and down and screaming at the top of his lungs because he's happy. Yesterday we were watching Rugrats and the beginning credits (the new version from when Dil was around) and he would sit there and laugh and squeal and I'm like "WTH is the matter with you? Is it that crucial? Are we that excited?" Even Albert will look at him sometimes and be like "What did you give him to eat?" and I have to let him know "That is all Trio baby. No sugar need be added." But I will admit it does sometimes make me smile to see him take pleasure in such a little thing. I think that's why adults are so bitter sometimes because they forget how to do that. So to see something as simple as the opening credits on Trio's favorite show inspiring such joy is nice.

That's all for today. Trio is doing fine otherwise than that healthwise and just his normal energetic self. Trying to decide what to do for lunch. Maybe pizza we'll see what the hubster says.