Monday Mishaps with Mom - Toddler Woes

This week is for those moms who find the daily trials of parenting a toddler completely exhausting.

I just mentioned to my husband last night I feel I can never stay on top of the household chores AND the kids, as well as my at-home career. When we were in our condo, I seemed to have it under control. But now, in a house with two kids, it seems to have quadrupled. You add 1 child, and the universe flips its orientation. It's making my writing and my client work suffer.

Not only does my daughter love to go down into her brother's room during naptime and get into the crib with him or dump stuffed animals on his head, but she won't leave him alone when he's playing happily in his jumper or on the tummy-time mat. Her interaction with him almost always ends with him crying or screaming. To her, he's her personal dolly, and she can do whatever she wants to him.

And I posted back in July about the mishaps with the fish. This most recent time, I was sure the fish would never last. I knew something was wrong when my daughter came into the sunroom/playroom/office with a banana and her fingers were covered in this brick-red stuff. At first, I couldn't figure out what it was. Then, it dawned on me...and I rushed into the kitchen.

To the left is what greeted my eyes.

In a matter of 5 minutes while I was on the phone with a client, my daughter had grabbed her stool from the bathroom and brought it into the kitchen. She climbed up to reach the fish food we'd put at the back of the counter. Deciding the fish needed to be fed, she proceeded to dump half the container of food inside the tank, giving the tank decor a healthy coating of red flakes. Maybe she wanted it to appear more festive?

I could go on with far more stories, but then what I would post here each week. Next week, I'll be sharing potty training stories. This experience is going to kick my butt if we can't get on the other side of the struggle soon. It's been almost a year trying to master this. Progress is going very slowly. And nothing we do seems to work. (sigh)

Don't get me started on the toys she's completely ruined. Good thing almost everything we have has been passed down to us and we didn't spend money on them, or I'd be much more upset. It never ceases to amaze me how a 2-year-old girl can destroy something in just a few weeks that has previously survived THREE boys through these same years and beyond.

Makes me cringe thinking about what my son will be like at this age. They might just team up as Destructo and Ruinous Havoc. A dastardly duo of disorganization. I better figure out a way to channel these penchants for good before it's too late!

How about you? If you have/had children, what helps/helped you get through these years? I'd love to hear about it.

Tune in next week for the next "Monday Mishap with Mom." See you then!

And you can always look at the labels at the bottom of the right column to find "monday mishaps with mom" and read up on any week you've missed. My goal is to encourage mothers who feel a bit frazzled, and to help brighten your day as you start off your week. You're not alone.