Monday, April 23, 2012

T is for Terrible Twos



The Terrible Twos is a term everyone probably knows.  It's the proclivity for  two-year-olds to burst into a tantrum when they are upset, usually because they can't express what they want or how they feel - it makes them so frustrated it takes over their whole body.  It's not pretty.

I'm no child psychologist, but I can tell from experience that this doesn't end the day they turn three.  I also know it affects the most verbal of small people too.

My little guy is three and a half.  He's a very good talker.  One day, he told me I have "a good sense of humor."  When I asked him what that meant, he wasn't sure.  When my husband left last week for his third week-long business trip in five weeks, my little guy wasn't sure if his dad was going to come back.  So there was a lot of crying and emotion all week.  

You would think his dad's return would help, that my son's behavior would be all better, that he would be happy and calm again.  But his three-year-old mind is worried his dad might leave again if he lets him out of his sight, so he stuck on him like glue for the weekend and wasn't even a little bit happy. 

Actually, he was happy for the first hour after his dad returned.  He put a toy car in his dad's hand and explained to him in great detail how to play.  The cars were army cars, and he was supposed to make his car follow behind my son's car.  They had to stick together.

Today, his dad has to go to the office.   I think it's going to be a rough day.


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This post is part of the 2012 A to Z Challenge

32 comments:

  1. I know you're right... I've had a little one live with me for the past 7 or 8 months, who went from 2 to 3 during that period. And he has meltdowns all the time too. I think it has to do with their little emotional centers ruling everything they do. They just can't control it.

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    1. When it flips the other way and they are happy, it's all worth it. :)

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  2. I'm sorry, Tonja. Wonder where his fear of his father leaving forever began?

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    1. Just normal separation anxiety. My husband travels a lot.

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  3. Having not had children, I can't really comment except to say that I was a delightful little person myself - my mum still complains that I didn't sleep through the night until I was 4.

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    1. Ugh. You should be really nice to your mom now. She deserves it. :)

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  4. I hated the terribly 2 and 3s and 4s for that matter... best of luck today

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    1. I don't remember it ending until they turn 5 just in time for them to go to school all day.

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  5. I am glad those are distant memories for me...but as you can see we all survive somehow....try that with Double Trouble lol.

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  6. My sons melt over their dad leaving all the time. My dh just took a new job with more travel, so I'm not looking forward to it. I hope your son adjusts soon.

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    1. By the time he adjusts, it's usually time to travel again.

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  7. My kids were pretty good for the twos. It was the threes that were terrible. Glad that's over! Good luck today!

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    1. The twos are kind of a blur at the moment. It's that mommy amnesia thing that makes you want to keep having babies.

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  8. Oh, man, that's gotta tear his father up inside, knowing the boy is so upset. Poor little guy. I hope each time his dad comes back again he starts to understand it isn't forever.

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    1. I agree about his dad. There's nothing he can do about it. He's gotta work.

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  9. Two? Three? How 'bout four or five? Does the terrible part ever end? I feel your pain.

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    1. I think eight to ten year olds are generally reasonable people. :)

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  10. What type of strategies have you used to divert his attention or to get his focus else where?

    That's really amazing since 2 and 3 year old's attention can usually be diverted easily.

    He must really be attached to his dad!
    http://bettyalark.blogspot.com

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    1. His dad is his special someone. And, yes, we diverted his attention as much as we could. He was still upset about it and acted out quite a lot.

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  11. Aaah, that's sad! When I was a kid, my dad was always travelling and I hated it. He was away for 10 months :(

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  12. that's so hard, i am sorry--i won't let you know about the teen years

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    1. I have one of those too. And one in between.

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  13. Aww, poor little guy. I think it's because there's so much about the world they don't and can't understand at that age. I hope he feels more secure soon.

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  14. I hope it gets better soon. Do you have a way for them to video call each other while your husband travels on business? Skype on the computers?

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  15. My kids had such a hard time whenever my hubby went out of town! It's a lot for a three year old to handle.

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  16. I'm sure he'll understand when he gets a little older, but I'm sorry that it's so difficult for both of you in the meantime. Brinda's idea about Skype is a good one. Julie

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  17. And yet, two is my favorite age for kidlets.

    Patricia

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