Are these REALLY the terrible twos? (Toddler Stage in general)

Member Name: KLockwood75

Product:	Toddler Stage in general
Date:	04/03/09 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of fun, lots of variety, life will never be the same again

Disadvantages: You need a LOT of energy and don't expect a lie-in

"The Terrible Twos" - three words to fill parents' hearts with dread. Even from that cuddly little newborn stage, we were looking ahead to what comes next and I have to say that I wasn't looking forward to this bit. I had visions of one tantrum after another, with my little boy throwing himself to the floor every time things didn't go his way, of endless battles over mealtimes, of sleepless nights all over again and, of course, the sheer terror of potty-training.

Well, we haven't reached the potty training stage yet - this week's abortive attempt having ended in three wees on the floor and a demand to 'put my nappy back ON Mummy' - but so far I am loving the toddler years.

It's so much more fun than having a newborn - my son is chatty and affectionate, he's good company now that he can talk and he makes me laugh more every day. Yes, it's more of a challenge to find activities to occupy him without resorting to the power of CBeebies or Nick Jr, but it's so much more rewarding when you find something he really enjoys doing. I love the way we can sit together drawing pictures (although I still can't draw a dinosaur that meets his approval), or baking biscuits, or building zoos out of Duplo, or making train tracks for his Thomas trains to run around. I also love the way he uses his imagination - lining up the little chairs to make a train and shouting 'All Aboard Mummy' - or spreading a towel out on the floor, getting out his tea set and demanding that we have a picnic.

I didn't realise quite how proud I would be of all his little achievements. This week he's learned to catch the ball... something we take for granted, but he's so proud of himself for being able to do it. Learning how to jump was much the same - he wanted to jump for so long and now he can finally do it, he's so excited that he can. He sings all the time - whole songs now and it always makes me smile to hear him. He can recognise numbers now (not all of them, just a select few) and he takes such great pride in being able to point out 'Look Mummy, there's number 2 on that door'. Even little things like him completing a puzzle on his own make me glow with pride.

I think it's easier in a way that I work part-time - I appreciate the time I have with him so much more, and maybe I've got more energy to do things with him because I don't have to do them every day. He loves nursery and runs in shouting for his friends, so I know he's getting a lot from that too - plus they can do the really messy stuff with him and I don't have to feel guilty.

Yes, there are challenges too. He does have tantrums, although they are less bad than a year ago and I think his improved communication skills have a lot to do with that - he did throw himself to the floor at the shops the other day though. Sometimes I wonder whether we'll ever really crack the eating thing - I was so determined that he wouldn't grow up to be a fussy eater, but now I increasingly find myself going for the foods I know he'll eat rather than facing the battle to get him to try something new. Walking and the buggy are battlegrounds too - he wants to walk and be independent, but he invariably can't manage to walk the whole way so I either have to take the buggy anyway or carry him and the shopping home, and he's just too heavy these days. He wakes up more in the night than he used to and mornings seem to be getting earlier all the time. I'm often a bit guilty of using the TV as a babysitter while I try and get some jobs done, especially now he's mostly dropped his afternoon nap. And obviously I know I'm going to have to face that potty training one of these days...

Overall though, being Mum to a toddler is fantastic. I love the time I spend with my gorgeous little boy and I wouldn't change a thing... apart from possibly installing a snooze button for those early morning wake-up calls!

Summary: Loving the toddler years... it's great!