Let’s face it, nearly 3 is going to either drive me completely insane or totally kill me. Seriously.
THE WHINING!!! I CANNOT TAKE THE CONSTANT WHINING!!!
I know people say that 2 is hard (ha!!) or 4 is hard, 5 is hard, 6 is hard … but I have SO many friends who have said that this 2-almost-3 + just-turned-3 stage is the worst stage of a kid’s parent’s life. And I believe them.
WHY WON’T SHE EAT ANYTHING ANYMORE?
I truly want to skip over the next few months and work our way into three-and-three-quarters, please.
IF SHE COMES OUT OF HER ROOM AT NIGHT ONE MORE TIME, I’M GOING TO PUT A DEADBOLT ON THE OUTSIDE OF HER DOOR!
Anyway.
Isn’t this a peaceful picture?
Let’s take a closer look.
Arms are crossed. Pouting lip fully extended. Tears inevitable. Because I wouldn’t let her jump into the fast-moving river and pet the ducks. The horror!
But then there are moments … wonderful wonderful moments … when the stars align and earth is rotating at just the right speed …
And I say to myself, “Man. I am so lucky.”
And then she whines at me to quit talking to myself.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
aha
this made me laugh
very nice :)
The first picture is Keli made over!
Love the hair cut, love the pictures.
Oh, dear gosh. I’ve survived two so far & my third is coming up on 2. I know this stage is coming soon. Let us bow our heads & say a prayer for all the moms, for there are more of us out there.
It’s a miracle so many children/parents make it to 4.
.-= Vanessa´s last blog ..YouTube search stories =-.
I am so so so so so right there with you – the WHINING, the nighttime escapades from her bedroom…we even have that same exact dress:) Hope you’re feeling a tiny bit better!
.-= Lillian´s last blog ..Almost Ready =-.
Mine will be three in July. Right now she requires A LOT of patience. Right now, I find myself losing patience. All the time. There are many crying fits each day. There are few nights where it takes less than an hour (usually muuuuuch longer) to get her settled in bed and asleep. Any idea that she doesn’t suggest herself is met with a prolonged “NoooooOOoooo!” Or a hideous whining sentence about what she doesn’t want to do, doesn’t like, can’t do, etc. It’s an exhausting stage. Completely draining. I feel for you. You’re not alone.
.-= Yolanda´s last blog ..photo challenge: i heart faces | smiles =-.
3 is the worst, so I feel you! It’s hard as it is, but being pregnant would make it even more challenging, I think…
Freddy turns 4 next week, he is slowly getting better. We’ll see what happens one he actually is 4 :)
.-= Tanya´s last blog ..Guess what we did this Thursday? =-.
I know what you mean!
Meredith turns 3 on Tuesday. Kill.Me.Now. Neither of my other 2 kids were like this at this age.
Today, I was painting the kitchen cabinets (and told the kids to “stay away,” “don’t touch this, it’s wet,” etc about a MILLION times), and I SWEAR, Meredith put her hand on it just to spite me. Looked me right in the eye and stuck it right there. ARGH!!!!
But…we’ll get through it. We might even look back and giggle about the stubbern, annoying things they’re doing to us right now. ;) Hang in there.
1) I don’t have kids, but I keep telling people I’ve going to find somewhere that will sell me kids aged 10 and up becuase I don’t know that I can handle them smaller.
2) I wish I was as cute as your kiddo when I pouted. :-)
3) Seriously— if I were that cute as a pouter I’d pout all the time.
they don’t eat anything at 3 3/4, either, i’m afraid. :)
You rock. Parenting is a challenge. We should get awards of money and champagne.
Three is bad. So is thirteen.
.-= Melissa-The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans´s last blog ..Colorado =-.
Almost three is HARD. I will say (and I REALLY hope I’m not jinxing myself by saying this!) that since Maggie turned three a month ago, things have been a little better. She seems to ‘get it’ more when we say no about things. She’s not HAPPY, mind you, but she realizes that whining and fighting about it is not worth her energy.
There must be something about the Impending Age Change or something. I remember the same thing last year before she turned two. Good luck :) :)
.-= Jen´s last blog ..oh, the weekend =-.
I am telling you Keli… this is the easy stuff. Smile and remember this too shall pass. You haven’t seen anything yet. She is adorable!!
.-= diana aka meme´s last blog ..Flower Girl One and Flower Girl Two! =-.
Oh, those days! My four-year-old is sassy as all get-out, though! Hang in there. It’s all worth it!
And I could totally see the attitude in that first shot! Great capture! :)
all i can say is “amen” I totally feel ya. And yes, it’s more like the terrible 2 and a halfs ;)
big hugs Momma, hang in there
.-= johnna lafaith´s last blog ..Trouble With the FREE Elements actions… =-.
Oh dear. I’m all too familiar with the post in that first picture. It is a trying time for everyone. Stay patient and like all phases, it will pass. Hugs!
.-= jen@ourdailybigtop´s last blog ..We love Teachers! =-.
Right there with ya! I just finished putting my (just turned) 3 year old back into bed for the sixth time tonight. And, I still need to go clean up the full plate of delicious food she refused at dinner.
I would pay serious money for the tantrums to downgrade to just pouting and whining. Mine’s a screamer, so I’m just waiting for the warm summer day when all the neighbors can hear.
I swear every day lately that had we been going through this stage when the topic of kid #2 came up, my answer would have been a lot different. Now, I know what is in store for us again and will spend the next two years dreading it!
.-= Jayna @ Yankee Drawl´s last blog ..Lazy Sunday: Cause I’m Off Enjoying The Cute. Again. =-.
She’ll eat when she’s hungry. And HOW DARE YOU not go into the water to pet the ducks! Worst mother ever. Well, second worst. Because I am the worst mother since I would not allow my daughter to pull gross things out of the trash, to drag the breakable dog dishes around (she already broke one and cut her hands wide open) AND wouldn’t let her have fruit loops at 8pm.
I tell her maybe her next mother will be better. Which is something my mom use to say to me growing up. I said I never would.
Apparently, I lied.
OH girl, I hate to be another one to say it but yes, early three’s is HARD. And I’ve got an almost-three whiner over here too, just a boy instead of a girl. He’ll be three on the 15th and we plan to celebrate, but oh boy we may be in for it! ;-)
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..You Capture – Spring (from a different perspective…) =-.
Going through the SAME EXACT THING with my almost 3yr old! (turns 3 May 30th) The whining has gone through the roof!!!! Some parts of the days are harder than others. The 2′s were nothing compared to this!!
.-= Sarah @ Smallslice´s last blog ..Personalized Shirt =-.
LOL! But not really laughing, though…
This is SO TRUE! My girl is now four and a half. THIS period in particular IS over. There were many more difficulties to come yet. But I remember THIS period so clearly, that I feel for you. I am with you.
But like you said, it will pass. If you can laugh more than you worry, then you’ll be fine, I think.
.-= Julie Alvarez´s last blog ..Something =-.
i totally agree with EVERYTHING you said OMG im soooooOO there in your shoes with my just turned 3 year old girl-e-o. God lover, she just changed to someone/ something (lol) different …..i tell everybody when she starts screaming at the top of her lungs its like she’s 3 going on 13. Then at the end of the day when i peep in on her when she is actually in HER bed (until 3am) and sleeeping soundly with her little breathing breaths that sound so sweet and gentle….i remind myself and i also say “Man. I AM so lucky.” Cuse we are :)
.-= jessica´s last blog ..smile =-.