Ohhhh, THIS is what they meant by “terrible” twos
It’s been four and a half months since the twins turned two. And in that time the kids have been… *whisper*frickin’ easy. I mean it. Sure, they would whine every now and then. They’d smack each other every now and then. But they were nothing like Sarah’s kids.
But lately? Oh. My. Heavenly. Father.
Swee’Pea is on the verge of becoming a certified WHINER. The only reason she hasn’t shifted into full-time whiner status is that Mommy and I refuse to play that game. The minute she starts whining is the minute we stop caring. You’d think after 2,123,952 times of not getting what she wants using the whine technique, she’d try something else. No such luck. The girl is convinced this will work. You gotta love her perseverance.
TheMonk, on the other hand, has suddenly realized that a) he is DA BOMB and b) he has choices.
Yes, TheMonk projects a ‘tude. It’s quite a sight to see all 33 inches of Monk strut around the house like he owns the place. He has this mischievous smile that says “I’m cute. And now I will use that cuteness for evil.” It’s a bit disconcerting. And even more difficult when punishing the kid. It’s like punishing a puppy. You don’t want to rub his face in it, but it’s the only way he’ll learn.
As for the “choices…” TheMonk has begun to perfect the concept of “free will.” If he doesn’t want to come when you ask him to come… he ain’t comin’. If you want him to share something, he has this way of saying “no” that makes you want to stick your head in a vice. It’s less “no” and more…
“no. No. NO. NO! NO!!” A crescendo of negativity that would make Nancy Reagan proud.
And then… there’s last night…
Last night… Or, as many of you might know it… EARLY MORNING! TheMonk decides to wake up and cry out. I jump out of bed and head down the hall expecting to pat him on the back, give a few “there… there’s” and I’m back to dream land.
TheMonk had other ideas. He wanted to go downstairs. (sound familiar?) The only difference between this time and last time was this time it was 2:15 in the freakin’ morning! Daddy was not in such a mood for cuddle time. Not that I didn’t try. I did try. Only I was hoping to sleep while we got some cuddle time. But TheMonk was adamant. He wanted to go downstairs.
Finally, after cajoling, suggesting and downright begging for him to go back to sleep, I picked him up and plopped him in his crib. As my head hit the pillow, I could hear him screaming. The clock said 2:52 a.m. About forty-five minutes later he finally had enough screaming.
As TheMonk found out, it’s a little bit harder to practice free will when you’re stuck in a crib.
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Keep them in the cribs. Seriously. This was one of my mistakes.
Comment by Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — October 26, 2007 @ 5:31 am
Bwahahahahahahahahah…
Sorry… I tend to enjoy when other twin parents get to experience this firsthand. In all seriousness though, you WILL survive, and they will grow out of it, trust me. Though you might have to wait until they’re past the ‘Terrifying Threes’… or the ‘Ferocious Fours’… or, where I am now, the ‘Fear-inducing Fives’…
Comment by Kemp — October 26, 2007 @ 5:52 am
Maybe TheMonk can come over to our house and play. Zed’s been getting up every other night, usually from 2 to 4. He plays in his room for awhile and then decides he doesn’t want to play alone anymore. I think I’ve found the perfect playdate!
Comment by Chag — October 26, 2007 @ 7:14 am
This IS the best time of your life. Keep repeating the mantra “This is the best time of my life” during those early morning hours.
Comment by Grandmother — October 26, 2007 @ 9:02 am
You are SO lucky they haven’t discovered how to get out of those cribs yet, or that they haven’t pulled a Tad. So far, the toddler bed experiment seems to be working, but I live in fear of the moment when he says, “Screw this – I’m up and outta here!”
The whining will continue for at least 2 more years, if Ane is any indicator, and then the whining becomes more advanced and subtle through the teenage years, if my sister is any indicator. Why am I thinking of having another one, again?
Comment by Deanna — October 26, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Wha … Wait a sec, you lost me at TheMonk NOT climbing out of his crib.
*jealousy!!*
But all the other parents of multiples that I meet assure me that this stage will pass.
(And, I’ll admit, I am reassured by the fact that they appear sane and well-rested. And that their children are still alive and well. ^_^)
Comment by Allanna — October 27, 2007 @ 11:06 am
This IS the best time. Just wait till their old enough to get in and out of bed a million times a night, whine about video games and dish duty and roll their eyeballs at you so often you think their eyes are permanently stuck up there.
Good times. Goooooood times.
Comment by Redneck Mommy — October 28, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
Hi Matt – LOVE your posts, man. Seriously, this blog rules.
How’s everything in San Diego? From what you wrote things seem to be stabilizing.
E-mail me your number when you have a chance and I’ll give you a call.
Take care,
JL
Comment by JL — October 28, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
I could copy this post, change the names, and pass it off as my own. I have absolutely loved this age so far, but Baylee is getting whiny and Brayden quite demanding and cocky. The huge difference, however, is that mine have begun climbing out of the crib. Only occasionally, but enough that I’m thinking of killing myself. Because that seems like a better alternative than giving them the freedom that comes with toddler beds.
Comment by Amy — October 29, 2007 @ 11:53 am