Don’t cross me
Lately, things have been said. Mean things. Threats, mainly. Only, I have not been the one demonstrating such hostility. Nor do I ever recall making such threats myself, on any occasion. But, nonetheless, there they are. Hanging in the air, mean words mismatched with a ridiculously cute and sweet 2-and-a-half-year-old voice.
“I’m gonna flick you off!” (he has no idea what this means, I have no idea where he heard this, if anywhere)
“I’m gonna smack you!” (again, NEVER been said in our house)
“I’ll cut down that tree and poke you in the eye!” (ouch)
“I’ll push you over and kick you in the leg!” (kicking when down, really?)
“I’ll spin you around and smack you!” (so as to disorient me? not a bad idea)
Why? No clue. Does there have to be a reason? Some days, he is tired. Some days, just so, so angry. Some days, everything is a crisis. Lately, mean words are daily, hourly.
Yesterday, I watched as a little girl cut in front of Milo to use the monkey bars at the playground. Without hesitation, Milo kicked her. Hard. She, being an older and more mature 5-year-old filly, turned around and without skipping a beat, kicked him back. Milo’s face dropped. He was shocked, appalled, and devastated. He looked at her, looked at me, then retreated to the sandbox… where he proceeded to throw sand at a random big boy. Who then threw sand right back at Milo. Milo, again shocked, said to the boy, “Hey! Don’t throw sand at me!”
???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF?
So the little (big) boy said “Well, don’t throw sand at ME, DUDE!”
Well said.
And I watch as Milo learns some valuable lessons on his very own. I am tired. So tired of time-outs and “lectures” and “no’s” and trying to catch him being good so that I can praise instead of just correct. I am tired. So I let him go. I let him get kicked. Because? I kind of want to kick him myself, frankly. And then I feel horrible and guilty because he is TWO and I am the adult, and all I really need is a break and a patience makeover. He is little, and angry. And so I hug him, and kiss him, and tell him how much I love him. And I teach him the right way, even though I am tired of being the mom sometimes. Because, well, I guess that’s what moms do.
I love you, Buddy.
The nice one
This was the best post you’ve ever done…gave me a solid laugh. Milo is quickly becoming a comedian. “I’ll sping you around and smack you”?!?!. That’s absolute comedy gold. In fact, I guarantee I say that to someone tonight. I guess a parent’s instinct would be to stop this type of aggressive behavior, but from an outsider’s point of view, you might want to let him be a little nasty, just for humor’s sake. Life isn’t all puppy dogs and ice cream…it’s about kickin’ ass and throwing sand at kids. That’s basically the American Dream, and MIlo’s living it at a very young age.
Any video footage you could provide of Milo’s rants would be welcomed.
One minute, they are telling you that they aren’t your friend anymore, and the next they are picking flowers for you at T-ball practice.
by the way, does Oliver ever wear clothes?
Well said Lauren. Sometimes I want to kick Ben myself! (In fact I just said this to Jamie last night!) But, we won’t kick them, or smack them, or chop down a tree and poke them in the eye. We’ll continue to “catch them being good” and send them to time out, and they’ll be better for it in the long run. Hang in their mama! These little boys take the patience of a saint!
Milo wasn’t kidding when he said “A little bit nasty”
Just be there for him when someone spins him around, pokes him in the eye with a tree, and ‘flicks’ him off! He’ll learn soon enough that when he dishes it, he’ll have to take it! I really agree with Dave! It’s so hard for the Moms, but so entertaining for friends and family to see the little devil come out in our little ‘angels’. It’s all a balance, and Milo has been so good for so long….let the wild rumpus start!
I so appreciate your honesty and humor on here, Lauren. While I continue to consider whether I’ll have children or not it’s reassuring to hear the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unforgettably priceless from young moms I trust (I love this about Kristen and Annie’s blogs too). Lucky to have all three of you!
Love this post!
No pointy sticks to hand?
“I’ll cut down that tree and poke you in the eye!”
I love how resourceful he is!
Ah, this post made my day.
My favorite as well…”I’ll cut down that tree and poke you in the eye”. They are so clever aren’t they? Last night at a Le Leche meeting a little girl took his Elmo phone away and he chased her across the room waving his arms wildly and speaking some kind of angry garb in a very angry high pitchy voice…boy I can’t wait until he can talk…with real words!
1) Dave is a genius – “Life is about kicking ass and throwing sand at kids!” That’s now my favorite quote in life.
2) Jay-duh – I hope you do become a Mom because you’ll be a great one
3) Andrew just went to a NASCAR race and you wonder where Milo gets all those wonderful sayings? Isn’t it obvious?
4) You have the perfect background to raise this child. Just think, you can recommend the best schools for him since you worked at a couple he’ll probably end up going to.
I think I enjoy Milo’s quotes of rage way too much. It’s just so hard to believe words like this come out of a mouth/face like that! I love your commentary. You’re a good mom 🙂
more tears. of empathy. and laughter. thanks for the reminder of our need for a break and a patience makeover