Double the....

Tantrums. 


Today's double is tantrums. Specifically, ones that make me believe our terrible twos have hit early and this is all I have to look forward to, every day, for the next couple of years.


The things that cause the tantrums are what surprise me the most. Such as, this morning Chris' slippers fell off. Now, if you don't already know this, you should be aware that my brats are obsessed with all things shoe-related. Socks, shoes, slippers, footed pajamas. You name it, they love it. So, when the slippers fell off, he held them up and said "please" and I went to put them back on. I know, you're thinking, what a wonderful mommy. I thought so, too. Then, as I put the first slipper on his foot, you would have thought I had really been sticking him with pins and needles. Meltdown city. Screaming, crying, kicking, throwing the slippers. My bad, buddy, I assumed when you held them up and said "please" you wanted me to put them back on.


Other things that cause tantrums: 
Lady Gaga's "telephone", because apparently singing "stop calling" sounds too much like "stop, Collin."
Having a wet diaper and wanting a new one
Actually getting the new diaper put on
Pants being taken off to put the diaper on
Pants being put back on after the new diaper is on
Taking off our pajamas
Putting on our pajamas
Reading books
Not reading books
Not reading books in whatever way I am supposed to be
Chicken nuggets
Not getting chicken nuggets
Milk
Juice
Water
The dog
The cat
The dog and the cat playing
The dog and the cat not playing
Going to bed
Getting out of bed
What I say
How I say it
How loud I say it


I think you get the picture. Basically, every 8 seconds someone in this house has a meltdown. Its getting ugly in here. From the minute they wake up, until they actually fall asleep, almost anything can set them off. Now, they can be very pleasant and lots of fun, but lately they are just so quick to throw a tantrum.


When it comes to dealing with the tantrums, we are trying different things. Fights over toys (stealing from their brother) has been dealt with in a 2 step process - first we try to find them something else to play with. And 1 minute later when they decide they still want the toy their brother has and go fight for it, they go to a 1 minute time out. Neither of these options are really working for us.


When it comes to meltdowns over silly things, like slippers or the dog not playing with his rope toy the very second they want him to, I tend to let them alone and allow them to work it out themselves, unless they want a hug or something along those lines.


When it comes to food, its just too bad buddy. What I make for dinner is what is for dinner. Not every meal can consist of cheerios and banana slices, no matter how hard you wish it true. Usually they give up and eat whats in front of them, and then I reward them with some yogurt or those Gerber cheeto puff things. But it has taken meals from a 20 minute thing, to a 45 minute ordeal.


Oh terrible twos. Twice the tantrums, twice the screaming, twice the volume level.