Holy Toddler, Batman

[mizarchivist]

It will shock all of you to learn that my son is headstrong and would really prefer to have his own way always.

Today's ordeal was about getting him safely onto the back of the bicycle safely when what he really wanted was to ride in the chariot (not set up for my bike). Flailing, screaming, hitting... ohhhgod. Somehow, what I was saying to him, while I was trying to keep the bike upright, him buckled in, avoid getting swatted, got through- "not safe... I'm angry.." I don't know, but like a light switch, he just stopped and patted my arm and said something like "ohtay?" or "luff luff" and started sucking his thumb. When we passed Spy pond, at the spot where he says "honk honk" to the water fowl, his honk-honk was the most desultory, perfunctory representation, it broke my heart.

He's just been on a rampage since we got back from Ohio. He's transitioning to his new class, so I wonder if that will actually help, to be around bigger kids. His current teacher is baffled in it and I really hope he sorts out whatever new thing he's figuring out, because zomg. His vocabulary is really really coming along. It was so slow to start, that he's just stringing short sentences together. Things he says or conveys

• asks to have his diaper checked for poop "check!!"


• asks to be put down to sleep "nap"


• asks for food "snack"


• figured out that lovely "My" in conjunction with a noun. My hat, my bear, etc.


• Will request his companion sit, or announce "sit" when he's historically asked to do so


• baboooo ( balloon)


• stickah  (sticker)


• Peh-tie  (Perry the Platypus)


• Fuhb  (Ferb as in 'Phineas and...')


• poop


• faht (fart)


• Oh Maaaan! (in relation to poopy diapers)


• potty


• bath


• nu-nu (noodles, preferably mac n' cheese)


• funny


• silly


• bubba (Daddy, also daddy)


• MULK (milk, as in nursing)


• peeeeeeeeeeeese (please)


• luff luff (in-house version of I love you)


• sah-ie (sorry)


• joouh (juice)


• Something that conveys "bandaid"- we have Phineas and Ferb bandaids which are equal to stickers


• bee-bee (baby, as in Jack Jack Attack, his favorite mini-movie)


• tooooo (tooth- request to brush his teeth, which is actually an excuse to eat his new toothpaste)

... and so many more. It's hard to be little and want so many things and not get to do them the second it's desired. Or maybe ever if it means playing with the stove.

In the meantime, I need a nap, and maybe a fresh set of clothes that aren't covered in toddler-applied yogurt and grime. Thank you to caulay for the opportunity to go out and have adult conversation and see The World's End last night. Being able to do that sometimes helps at least a bit with the ongoing toddler battle. 

Comments

[caulay.livejournal.com]

You are quite welcome. I'm sure that all-toddler gets a bit monotonous.

Oh!

[drwex]

Such memories, such struggle. So much sympathy for both of you. People tend to say things like "it gets better" which is sort of true and also sort of completely irrelevant. It's a thing, as you recognize, and soon it'll be a new thing. Sometimes the things are hard.

Re: Oh!

[mizarchivist]

Right, exactly. Eventually I'll have something else that's really hard to do. Still, getting base-line survival/communication sorted? That'd be GRRRREAT.

This is a thing that I am capable of being zen about in the big picture.

I was just SO sad to see him sad after his melt-down. Ooof. Too many feels for everyone.

Re: Oh!

[drwex]

I know you do this, but I'll say it anyway - he knows you "luff luff" him and that gets through even when he's frantic and frustrated and has gone completely non-verbal.

I've seen this with Thing 2, who has absorbed how much I love him even through it all.

Glad you're able to be zen for at least some of this.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

::reading along with sympathy::

He may be acting out like crazy, but he feels Safe to do so. That speaks volumes to me.

[mizarchivist]

also, teething, as it turns out. We gave him some advil this morning and within half an hour we had a different kid. Oof. Poor little guy.