"THAT" stage

So yesterday I was talking to some very dear friends of mine about "THAT" stage. Ya know... its often referred to as the "Terrible Twos" only I don't think that's the right name for it because it starts BEFORE 2 and can last into 3 or even longer! At this point with a 2, 4, and 6 year old, I have been in "THAT" stage for 5 years now... again this blog is about Survival... and how to keep your sanity. If only I had a nickle for every time someone said "You have your hands full huh?" or "How do you do it?!?!" I'd be a billionaire! I like that song ;) I wanna be a billionaire so freakin' baaad.... Anyways here are some ways to cope when you are on the edge of insanity yourself.
Scenario A - you are home with the kids trying to clean. I'm going to stop right there give you a moment to go "ugh" because you know its next to impossible to have a clean house with young children in it. I read a quote recently that stuck with me because it couldn't be more accurate. It is "Cleaning your house with toddlers in it is like shoveling snow while its still snowing." Soooo true! My advice don't bother! lol No I'm kidding! I don't live in a pig sty! Eww! I've made it a habit to do the cleaning while they sleep... are they going to wake up and make a mess and have several spills a day to clean up? Yes, but it works and saves my sanity by not even trying to clean while they are up and making a mess, I mean playing ;) These are the moments you throw in the towel and join in the play. Classic but true "IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM" this holds true even with your kids!
Scenario B - You are in a store and your kid or kids are bored and/or want something...something like the ridiculously overpriced toy you know will break as soon as you leave or they will have no interest in after you pay for it... and low and behold the crying and screaming begins.... you are getting looks from around the isle or worse someone who thinks they can talk to them to calm them down. Ha! At this point my level of frustration is peaking and I'm on that edge of insanity... the kind where you are questioning what the hell were you thinking coming to the store with them in the first place because now you can't enjoy browsing... you can't enjoy thinking... and you are bound to forget what you came for in the first place and you want to scream at anyone who dares glances in you direction. (Yes I've broken before and told people to mind there own business, that my kid is fine, they are just 2!) Oh and I love the so called "expert tips" I've read everywhere to bring a toy or bring a snack. Ya right! LOL That last about 1.7 seconds until you are playing the 'I'll throw it and you pick it up mommy' game... or a snack becomes you cleaning a department store so you are not mortified by the trail left behind you... just saying... It would seem the easy way is to just give your kid what he or she wants. WRONG!!!! Let me break it down. Since birth both you and you child have had the communication of 'cry = give/get what they want' Think about it... your baby cries you feed him, or change him, or burp him or pick him up, whatever it takes until they are satisfied. We become so good at this communication that we can even identify the different kinds of crying! Right? You hear your one year old crying, and a friend or someone might say "Ooooh is she okay? Does she need to be changed?" And you immediately say "nope she's hungry" ... or "nope she's tired" or "Yup she got booboo"... Anyways right around 18months we have to teach them the complete opposite! That crying will NOT get you what you want. HELLO -of coarse we all are going to melt down during this process. lol Its life. Back to the store -so your kid is having a melt down -how to survive? DON'T give in... that is unless you want a 10 year old throwing a temper tantrum because they can't have what they want and I'll be the one around the corner giving you a look. Sometimes you just have to walk out. Leave your cart at a register and go take a time out in the car so you both or all can relax... Or go for snack -mmm Starbucks preferably... REMOVE yourselves from the situation. At all cost I do try to avoid melt downs so my tip to avoid this all together is hit the dollar section and let them pick something to play with while you shop. Wouldn't you pay $1 to avoid that situation all together? I sure as hell would and do! If there is no dollar section by the door (I'm talking about Target btw) then hit the toy section and let them pick something. You can always tell the person at the register to put it back. 1 item is really no big deal... its better than those crazy people sticking items in candy section or taking forever with coupons or writing checks... seriously people it 2011 -get a freaking check card, swipe and be gone.... because my kids are now asking for every piece of candy waiting on you! Its only so long before they pick up a Milky Way and I can't say no. lol

So there ya go... oh I said I'd talk about rainy day activities... whoops! well that dollar section in Target or the craft stores are excellent places to find crafts to fill a rainy day basket.... I'll work on that page next ;)

Happy cleaning and happy shopping everyone!