Terrible Two's?

There are many myths you learn about when you go into this parenting business. One is 'morning sickness'. Don't get your panties in a twist - I'm not going through it and luckily I didn't when Nathan was on the way. I'm just sayin', it's one of those things that has a bad name since it's rarely only a 'morning' thing, or so I've heard. But there is something else I do know about first-hand and that's the 'terrible two's'. It's not true that it's at two years old that kids get difficult. It's happening now, at 18 months. The kid is a maniac!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Nathan is a good kid. He's loving and happy and is very into hugs and kisses and he always goes to bed and he naps and he eats and all that good stuff. But there are other things he does not excel at during this time. Like, sitting still. The kid, as I said, is a maniac. It's like there is a bomb in his butt and if he goes less than 55 mph he will, indeed blow up. So he keeps on moving. We made the mistake of going out to eat tonight and we were reminded of why we haven't done that in a while. Actually he wasn't this out of control last time we went out. But he was this way when he and I flew to NY last month. Good LORD this kid is active! He does not like being confined to a restaurant booth, let alone mommies lap for an hour and a half. I have to say, I have learned to have patience, at least on the outside, because of this airplane experience. But it doesn't mean it's not hard to not yell at the kid who is throwing ketchup, mustard and sugar packets at the booth next to us. And so we attempted to eat, keep peace, entertain, contain flying food and hurry the hell up and go. Ah, relaxing!

He does have other qualities that are redeeming - it's not how he says "no" all the time (although it is mostly said at appropriate times). It's how he walks around saying "botball" (football) all the time (on the TV or not). It's how he loves to play around in the car and pretend to drive. It's how he looks in all his new big boy clothes. It's how he loves to kiss everyone, out of nowhere and on command. It's how he's learning new words and the names of our family; how he gets excited when he sees Gigi; how he waves to people on the street; how he wakes up and asks for "gilk" (milk) then runs to the window saying "woof, woof" in anticipation of seeing the dogs next door. It's how he says "momma" and "dada" when he misses/ wants one of us. Thank goodness for all his wonderful ways. His trying ones are so exhausting!