I hashtagged an argument with Milo on FB as "Terrible3s" and it got me to thinking...
I'm not sure I believe in "the Terrible Twos!" or "the Terrible Threes!" etc... any toddler can be difficult, or they can be adorable and snuggly and charming, regardless of how old they are. That being said, toddlerhood isn't meant to be pleasant, in my opinion. It is a time of boundary-testing, a time of self-discovery, and a time of pushing the limits. Toddlerhood can be really fun, if you embrace it instead of fearing it.
One of the kids I'm babysitting is 3, and she is always in trouble with everyone but me. I have almost no trouble with her at all. I know that it's different at home, and she has been asked to leave two or three other in-home daycares, due to behavior. She's THREE! She is SUPPOSED to argue with you! She's trying to define her boundaries! She's looking for how far she can go, what's acceptable, what she gets to decide and what she has to succumb to. Nap time- you have to do it, even if you don't wanna. Lunch time- no one will force feed you, so if you choose not to eat, you will have a hungry tummy until snack. Playdoh- If I don't clean it up, it will dry out and there won't be any to play with next time. It's the "sponge phase" of life, if anything.
It kind of hurts my feelings that people hate this age so much, because I think it's one of the most exciting times to be a parent.. watching your child bloom and grow, helping them define those boundaries and figure out who they are, discover their passions, discover EVERYTHING! They've finally reached the age where they can be little people of their own, they can form opinions and make choices, and they know the difference! How amazing is that? In 2 short years, your child will develop their own opinions, and they will be passionate about those opinions. They will develop their own interests, if you let them! The aforementioned 3 year old has a mom who is deathly afraid of spiders and despises bugs... but at our house, we catch and examine bugs closely, pointing out their details and characteristics, holding them and rescuing them from peril. She has jumped right in and loves it. She picks up ants on the sidewalk, she rescues stink bugs from the kiddie pool, and she gleefully carries ladybugs around the yard and shows them to anyone who will stop to look. Her older sister, who is 7, hates bugs and freaks out about them.
I try not to do things FOR my kids, I encourage them to do things for themselves, and I help them as needed... Kasin can make sandwiches, Milo can make hamburger helper if I pour the ingredients into the measuring cups for him and remind him to hold the handle of the pan while he stirs. I used to hate bugs, too, but I decided I didn't want my kids to have that fear. I read books, I explain words and their meanings, and I don't accept bratty attitudes from anyone's kids. I simply tell them that their tone is unacceptable or that those words are not appropriate and they may not speak to me that way. It works for everyone but Milo. ;)
I don't know where I'm going with this, I'm just rambling. I love toddlers, truly! I love kids and babies, too. :) I don't think I could ever just label a particular year as "terrible" for every single kid, just like I can't just say "oh boys will be boys" and allow Milo (or Kasin) to be rude and disrespectful. (I mean, Milo definitely is those things, but I certainly don't allow it.)
Milo amuses me, and frustrates me endlessly, but I think he always will. <3 Kasin is 9, and he definitely still does. ;)
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