Mothers Can Meltdown Too

​If no one has ever told you that it's okay to meltdown as a mother, I'm here to tell you it happens and it means you're human. I can usually gauge my day by Adeline's first utterances: if she responds well to my eager hugs, we're in for a good day, if she starts by immediately fighting the diaper change, I know I need to prepare the bomb shelter. Today was a bomb shelter kind of day. Aren't most days when your child is two? And friends tell me it only gets worse from here...

I think my brain is effectively working to remove some of these rough days from memory because I can't recall the circumstances, but last week I literally fell on the floor, crumpled into a ball and cried once both kids finally went down for a nap. And today, I felt like doing the same. We had a playdate with my friend, Kourtney, and her son, Theo, at an art studio; Addie was great for about ten minutes before turning into a "real peach," as I like to say. The next hour was FULL of incessant whining, unprovoked tears, and complete indecisiveness--ugh! Usually I can rein in her attitude, but not today. Once we arrived back home she unleashed her ear-splitting scream, a scream I haven't heard emitted from any other human being, which was then followed by throwing objects in defiance. 

When we met up with Kourtney this morning, she showed me a blog post that she said reminded her of me since it was about raising toddlers. Of course, I couldn't get through more than two lines before Addie required my attention and I never got to see the rest of the post. When I got home, I asked Kourtney to send me the link to this post, entitled "What Ten Minutes With My Toddler Looks Like." After the culmination of Addie's diva episodes, the writing brought me to tears--somebody else gets it! The author of this post said it spot on; this is exactly how my day goes. As you read, keep in mind this is only a ten minute span of the author's time! So that means we stay-at-home mamas of toddlers go through this circus act approximately 60 times a day. It's no wonder a mama meltdown happens on occasion. In fact, I should probably have more of them to keep my sanity =). Without further ado, read this post (A.K.A. my life). 

​Now that I've vented my frustrations, let me tell you that I wouldn't change my sassy sweet-pea for anything, seriously. As much as she tests me, she's two--it happens. I think she gives me way more run for my money than most two year olds, due to her strong-willed nature, but it's because of that strong-will that I adore her beyond measure. The next 16 years will be a battle to harness her energies and guide them in the right direction, but with the proper teaching I simply cannot imagine the good she will create in this world, a real dynamic force for Christ.  It's only with a will like hers that certain things can be accomplished. I foresee her being a woman who doesn't take no for an answer, which I believe is a phenomenal quality when she's trying to achieve dreams for God's Kingdom--makes it hard for me now, but a fantastic characteristic for one of His disciples. God created her purposefully, with fire and independence, to fulfill His unique plans for her life. Adeline also has the most thoughtful heart. She is extraordinarily kind and gentle. And she's got more personality than her little body can handle; she's wonderfully fun and absolutely hysterical. So, although age two brings me to the floor in frustrations, I truly recognize that it's filled with once-in-a-lifetime amusement and beauty. Embrace it, all of it! Because I'm told over and over that it ends much too quickly. Here's to six more months of two.... She's lucky she's cute ;)!