As you know, I will be a regular on the Matt & Ramona Show every Monday (so excited!!) . I will be the lead Mom to answer the 3:25p Call-of-the-Day “Mommy Issues”, geared around all things Mom.
The topic tomorrow is “Which age do you find most challenging – infant, toddler, tween or teen?” I’d love for Y-O-U to be part of the discussion each and every week! Leave your comments below and I will read them off during the interview. Don’t worry if you haven’t hit a certain age yet, we’d love to hear your take on the crazy mommy world that you’re in!
So here’s my answer to that question. I’m going with age 18 months to age 3. That window of time was pure torture for me! As a mom of four kids, three of my four went from the sweetest little cherubs into what I can only describe as Tazmanian devils overnight. When my oldest was 18 months, I was on a flight solo from FL. And I swear when we boarded the plane, she was my sweet baby I had always known. Then in mid-flight, just when the beverage cart was blocking our aisle, she started throwing shoes, toys, sippy cups and anything she could get her hands on towards the front of the plane. This completely caught me off guard and I was powerless. You might be wondering what triggered it – all because I brought the wrong snack. The lady sitting next to me actually asked the flight attendant “what do you plan to do with this child?”, as if there is anything anyone could do. I think she wanted to throw her overboard! Needless to say, sweet child never recovered from this Jeckyll & Hyde persona until she was maybe 6!
My second was an angel – if all my babies were like her, I would have 20:-) And my twins. Well let’s just say they are boy/boy identical twins who are JUST like their daddy. And I’ve been told he was known for his temper as a toddler. This is TOTALLY a Plym gene, not mine:-)
OK, TAG, YOU’RE IT!!
So while in carpool tomorrow, get off your facebook feed and join the Matt & Ramona facebook chat and call 704-338-2071.
Be there or be square!
5 comments
Hey Jen – I totally agree with you and would extend it to 3 and a half. There was just never a break during those years. Although, I do become exhausted when I just see a mom with a newborn – I know I could not do that again.
I did have a conversation with another triplet mom (I have 8 year old triplet boys) when my boys were about 2 and hers were pre-teen. She told me she would trade the difficulties of having young ones with the mental exhaustion and worries of having soon to be teens. She said, “as the children grow, so do their problems”. ugh. I think about that all the time and fear middle school like a big scary monster, especially for my daughter – yikes, I think that will be the hardest time.
I have two so far and my oldest is only almost 6. I will go ahead and just say 13 because this is the age that my parents decided that boarding school would be where I spent my pubescent years. Like a psychic I know that I will be payed back triple fold for my behavior. I already checked into securing spots for both my girls, it’s not allowed.
For me 18 -2.5 was pretty care free. You could distract them with ” Hey look at that leaf”. I am convinced that once they get their words to string in full cohesive sentences that 3 is the age at which terrorists are made.
My most challenging age is right now. Two babies (yes, twins) at the age of one. It is like parenting “Guerrilla Warfare” style. You put them on the ground and they take off in two completely different directions to find the most dangerous item they can. Once they find it, they put it directly into their mouths. The twins will fight for anything to get what they want. I once saw my twin daughter take food from my twin sons mouth. The worst part is, when it actually does get quiet in my house I know there is something seriously wrong. At this point I need ear plugs, two crash helmets, the direct dial for poison control, and a very large cup of coffee (or wine if it is past 5). So, this, right now is the most difficult phase. Except for tomorrow which promises to be even more difficult . . .
Love reading these. (W & K, thanks for the laughs). I’m still at the “hey look at that leaf” phase (per Wendy) and loving it, with my 18 mos., old, but I can see signs of her turning quickly into something much more demanding. Our problem right now is with our 4 year old (and so I’d say extend that 3 1/2 even further). My four year old will just not listen and obey. Just today, I put her in time out (because I was too exhausted to do anything else) and before I knew it, she had snuck out of TO, stolen an oatmeal creme pie (left over from the Blue Ridge Relay) and was watching T.V. It’s like she has no regard for authority (or at least our’s, sometimes). I have tried everything…the hardcore, John Rosemond type discipline, the rewarding the positive thing, etc etc. I’m starting to be in Wendy’s camp re: payback’s coming (and maybe even earlier for me). Also I wonder if we just stress out so much more about our first kids? Sorry, you caught me on a tough, at-home day with the babes. But I really try to remind myself, as tough as 18-3/4 can be, these are these days. No homework, we get time with them, everyday we get a new “funny,” etc. Interested to see what the moms of older kids have to say. Good luck tomorrow! I know you’ll be great! and ps cannot believe that your oldest gave you such a hard time!
High School , for sure! I fully remember thinking my parents were idiots and knew nothing. No adult understood me or my friends at all. I have a 4 1/2 yr old right now, but I teach high schoolers. OHHH, the eye rolls! OHHHH, the sighs! OHHHH, the drama! Not to mention dealing with/hearing about teen sex, drinking, drugs, texting, sexting, driving…etc. It makes me want to put my girlie in a bubble and let her out when she’s 21!!