THAT Mom

For the last couple of months our toddler has been going through what is commonly known as the terrible twos, now based on my experience with Adventure Girl and Adventure Boy I can honestly tell you that some kids have it more than others. 

With Adventure Girl it went on un-noticed, but with Adventure Boy... Well that's a whole other story. This time around everywhere I go, everything I do Adventure Boy is with me. If I am home he is home, if I go out he is goes out with me. 

Grocery shopping? He's with me. 

A quick trip to Target? He's with me. 

Drop-off? With me. 

Pick-up? With me.

He's been testing the waters to see how much my patience will stretch, how far he may go and how much my tolerance will take. Children in the same family are so different. Their needs are very different and can be complete opposites. 

Last week as I was battling a cold we took a trip to Target to stock up on some essentials, while shopping I noticed both kids were well behaved and was able to make our quick shopping trip an enjoyable experience. Then as I was walking towards another aisle I heard a mom telling her children to behave, as I listened to her all I could think was "hang in there mom" then we entered that aisle she too had a boy and a girl about the same age of my children and as our eyes met it was like we knew how she felt. I could understand her completely!

I knew what she was feeling. Lately our errands have turned into small nightmares where the toddler is screaming bloody murder at the top of his lungs while Adventure Girl is asking for something and me? Well I am praying for a little more patience to take control over the situation and that no one pays attention to us. That we don't get "The look" because nothing is worse than dealing with your kids while having to do grocery shopping while your kids are making difficult for you and people just stare you down as if judging how you are parenting and then you are... THAT mom! 

"THAT mom" that allowed her children to cry while shopping, "THAT mom" that because she was standing her grounds on not buying what was not needed is making her children cry. "THAT mom" that will not leave the store because she ran out of milk at home and knows that if she leaves there will still be no milk or fruit at home. 

So on this particular shopping trip when I saw a mom dealing with her kids, I smiled at her and then said "it will get better". She smiled back at me and said "Thank you, I really needed some understanding". We had a small conversation and her children were talking to Adventure Boy and Girl after that everyone was all smiles and ready to finish shopping.

How many times have you seen "THAT mom" trying to accomplish something while her children are challenging her and not once did you cut her some slack or smiled without judging her. Times have changed and people are forgetting that they were once children themselves and that maybe just maybe they were just as much or even more difficult than the children "THAT mom" has. 

So next time you see a mom having a hard day with her children, don't judge her. For all you know she just needs some encouragement that everything will be ok. 

Have you met "THAT mom"? 

Toddler Tuesdays week 04/03

It's fascinating to watch as a toddler explores his new surroundings, we recently moved after living in the same home for 8 years. Both our kids were born in the home we left behind, both sets of grandparents were always a quick one hour trip away. We are now an 8 hour drive away or a 90 minute flight away. Of course it is different at our new home. We lived in a 4 bedroom house with a backyard that had our swing set and outdoor toys. We are now in an apartment it is completely different and new to us, specially for our kids. However the kids had new friends from the day we moved in and our toddler is enjoying the trees that sway to the beat of the wind. 

It is in these moments when we realize how much he is growing. As his older sister always says: "mommy wouldn't you like to freeze brother so he could stay cuddly forever?" {yes I do get teary eyed with that comment} and you know what I would love to freeze both my kids to stay this age forever, but I also understand that they need to grow, explore their world and enjoy life to the fullest. 

How do you feel when you see your toddler explore the world?

Toddler Tuesday week 03/13

Today as every Tuesday I took our toddler to his Mommy & me class, usually at circle time he fidgets, is wondering around the classroom or just wants to do his own thing at the toy corner. However, since last Tuesday there has been a major improvement: finally he is participating, hooray for that! 

I have to admit this caught me by surprise as he always just sits at the table and observes or plays with stickers while the other children in class listen for their name and place their name card in its place and high five the teacher. I am beyond happy and amazed at how much children can mature in just a couple of days. 

High five to our teacher Ms. Lori for guiding me and working with us, being patient is not my thing so this is not also teaching our son but also teaching me as a mom to be a little more flexible and choose my battles. :)

What has your toddler been up to? Have you noticed anything different in him/her?