Holy Tantrum, Batman

We are all being held captive these days by a tiny dictator and her nasty little temper.

Grace has been a pretty mellow kid. Sure, we had the occasional meltdown, a time out here or there. But I had it all in check. I had the easiest kid in the whole world. I was super mom.

Stupid, stupid woman...

A few weeks ago the beast was unleashed without warning. I have no idea what prompted it. When I talk to my other mommy friends about this, I get this as an answer:

"Yeah, right before they turn three, they get really difficult. Three was a lot harder than two."

WELL GIVE A SISTER A HEAD'S UP, PEOPLE!!!

Really, there should be a formal warning label attached to all toddlers..."PROCEED WITH CAUTION."

So here is how it all went down...

I am sitting on the couch holding Patrick. Grace is playing on the floor. Everything is peachy. Grace decides to throw a shoe.

"Grace, don't throw your shoe. You could hurt somebody."

Grace looks at me, picks up the other shoe, and throws it.

Oh no you didn't, little girl.

"Grace, you are going to sit on the step for not listening."

KAAABBBBOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!

I watch as my sweet baby girl screams, yells, cries, stomps.  She is put in her room. Pat and I stare at each other. Disbelief and I think a little terror in our eyes. So the plan of attack: to come out of her room, she has to say sorry. Yeah, that's right...I went Supernanny on her ass.

I open the door. She is sitting in a crumpled heap on the floor, tear streaked face. I feel my heart break. But I know I am right.

"Grace, you threw a shoe after I told you not to. You were not listening so you had to go into time out. You need to say sorry to mama for not listening and then you can come out of your room."

"No."

*blink, blink*

WHAT?!?!? Seriously...was not expecting that. Shit. Now I have to keep doing this! So I shut the door. She melts down again. 5 minutes later, I go in requesting an apology for her bad behavior and I get nothing.

This goes on for 45 minutes.

The girl is nothing if not persistent.

Anyhoo, that was my first experience with a toddler tirade. And they have continued. It absolutely sucks knowing you are going to go ten rounds with a person you can never win with. Because as much as I hate to see her being fresh, I freakin' HATE disciplining her.

I totally know that it is a necessary evil. And believe me, I do not want a monster on my hands. But when I see her upset, my first reaction will always be to comfort her. Now to act against that instinct is torturous for me. But I am doing it...for the greater good and for the sake of all people who will ever have to deal with my daughter in the future. I mean, the whole point to this parenting thing is to raise a decent human being, right??

I think the other hard part is the embarassment. The gawks of strangers (or even not strangers) while your kid explodes like a landmine. In my earlier years, Kidless Jill was totally guilty of judging people whose kids acted out in public. I will admit it now. I used to think to myself "Don't let that brat get away with it." If I could, I would go back in time and slap Kidless Jill right in the mouth...foolish girl.

If only I knew that one day I would be one of these poor, tired, beaten down parents who are just trying to walk the fine line between doing the best by their kids and keeping what's left of their own sanity.

I don't like to be a Debbie Downer, so I will say, that Grace is still mostly a joy. She is still warm, loving, polite and sweet. She will crawl up in my lap at least once a day to tell me she loves me. And happily, I have found Halloween candy to be a great bribe for good behavior.

So for now, I am proudly sticking to my guns, taking each day as it comes, enjoying the times with my sweet baby Grace, constantly trying to ward off her evil twin...and drinking wine (lots and lots of wine).