They’re so much fun right?  I’m convinced the “terrible twos” is a phrase we moms use to not completely go crazy and call them devil children.  “Oh he’s just going through his terrible twos,” is something I find myself saying.  Although I’m not sure if I’m saying it to the people who are giving me weird looks, or two myself.  Either way I’m saying it, loud and proud.  On Sunday I had an encounter with a sweet mama in the hallways of church.  She was dropping off her older son, and her sweet and adorable three year old was hiding in a little doorway alcove screaming her head off.  The mom looked slightly frazzled and I looked at her with a knowing smile.  The first thing she said to me was, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with her.” I laughed and said, “been there, done that, and doing again with my two year old.”  I gave her a little squeeze on her arm and said, “you’re not alone.”

The first “mistake” she made was saying “I don’t know what’s wrong with her!”  Please raise your virtual hand if you’ve done this.  I know I have, and you aren’t raising your hand then you’re totally lying! So what do you do to pretend you’re surviving?  After having three kids I can officially say I’m getting better at these younger years.  Don’t get me wrong…I’m totally clueless about what’s coming up.  That is for my friends with older kids to sort of figure out and then clue me in on thanks Sarah (go buy some of her amazing purses and accessories at Hands Full Creations – she has three boys between the ages of like 8 and 11..help a sister out.

1) Don’t say you don’t know what’s wrong with them.  The absolutely best way to handle to survive anything that comes your way in parenting is speak the truth!  can i get a witness!!??!!  Say, “my child is currently going crazy,” or “if I wasn’t out I’d be hiding in the closet eating frosting right out of the container,” something along those lines.

2) Learn the power of ignoring.  Find your inner mom zen.  Now whether you do that by busting out the yoga mat while your child is screaming in the other room, yelling “mommies going to take a shower” and then secretly locking yourself in there while the shower is running and playing candy crush, or eating frosting right out of the container.  Find your mom zen and ignore the fit.  It’s parenting gold I tell you.  For the most part kids will react to any attention you give them, whether it be good or bad.  They also know you’re mom, they totally have your number and know how to push the buttons.  Case in point, my kids almost always behave better while with friends or babysitters.  I’m talking, “oh my gosh, Brian is the sweetest, quietest, most respectful child I have ever seen!!”  I’m sorry, who are speaking of?  Don’t get me wrong, for the most part he’s all those things; but the last time we had a friend out I was literally telling him, “please don’t act like this, your friend is going to go home and tell his mom how crazy I am!!”  I later fount out that she was secretly thinking the same thing when my kid was other there.  So back to number one, talk about it!!!

3) Girls night/date nights:  Do it, do it now, do it often.  Coffee dates, dinner dates, dragging all the kids to Chick-Fil-A and then sending them all to the play area and praying they stay in…do it!!  Talk about how crazy your kid is being, and if you’re hanging out with the right people then they will probably start doing the same.  I love spending time with adults, but seriously who wants to spend time with someone who pretends their kid literally never does anything wrong.  This chick ain’t got no time for that!  And since when did grocery shopping at 9 o’clock at night become the best thing ever?  I hate sacrificing time with the hubby, but for this I’ll do it.  Find some good friends to swap kids with so you’re not paying for sitters all the time and go out!  Heck, go out on double dates!  Just do it!!

The best thing about my little guy is on top of all the crazy he is the sweetest, most loving, best hug giver and cuddlier.  He does everything with extreme passion.  So that leads to my final thought….

4) enjoy the snuggles, the giggles, the hugs.  Relish in the moments when he picks up his toys, puts his dishes in the sink, goes potty like a big boy and plays well with his siblings.  That is really the secret to getting through the rest of it.

and just because I’m nice, I thought you’d like to see my latest video “Real Tales of Motherhood: Phil Phil wants my coffee.”

Do you have a toddler, or a crazy kid?!  Tell me all about it!?  Or do you have a tip? I’d love to hear it!

They’re so much fun right?  I’m convinced the “terrible twos” is a phrase we moms use to not completely go crazy and call them devil children.  “Oh he’s just going through his terrible twos,” is something I find myself saying.  Although I’m not sure if I’m saying it to the people who are giving me weird looks, or two myself.  Either way I’m saying it, loud and proud.  On Sunday I had an encounter with a sweet mama in the hallways of church.  She was dropping off her older son, and her sweet and adorable three year old was hiding in a little doorway alcove screaming her head off.  The mom looked slightly frazzled and I looked at her with a knowing smile.  The first thing she said to me was, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with her.” I laughed and said, “been there, done that, and doing again with my two year old.”  I gave her a little squeeze on her arm and said, “you’re not alone.”

The first “mistake” she made was saying “I don’t know what’s wrong with her!”  Please raise your virtual hand if you’ve done this.  I know I have, and you aren’t raising your hand then you’re totally lying! So what do you do to pretend you’re surviving?  After having three kids I can officially say I’m getting better at these younger years.  Don’t get me wrong…I’m totally clueless about what’s coming up.  That is for my friends with older kids to sort of figure out and then clue me in on thanks Sarah (go buy some of her amazing purses and accessories at Hands Full Creations – she has three boys between the ages of like 8 and 11..help a sister out.

1) Don’t say you don’t know what’s wrong with them.  The absolutely best way to handle to survive anything that comes your way in parenting is speak the truth!  can i get a witness!!??!!  Say, “my child is currently going crazy,” or “if I wasn’t out I’d be hiding in the closet eating frosting right out of the container,” something along those lines.

2) Learn the power of ignoring.  Find your inner mom zen.  Now whether you do that by busting out the yoga mat while your child is screaming in the other room, yelling “mommies going to take a shower” and then secretly locking yourself in there while the shower is running and playing candy crush, or eating frosting right out of the container.  Find your mom zen and ignore the fit.  It’s parenting gold I tell you.  For the most part kids will react to any attention you give them, whether it be good or bad.  They also know you’re mom, they totally have your number and know how to push the buttons.  Case in point, my kids almost always behave better while with friends or babysitters.  I’m talking, “oh my gosh, Brian is the sweetest, quietest, most respectful child I have ever seen!!”  I’m sorry, who are speaking of?  Don’t get me wrong, for the most part he’s all those things; but the last time we had a friend out I was literally telling him, “please don’t act like this, your friend is going to go home and tell his mom how crazy I am!!”  I later fount out that she was secretly thinking the same thing when my kid was other there.  So back to number one, talk about it!!!

3) Girls night/date nights:  Do it, do it now, do it often.  Coffee dates, dinner dates, dragging all the kids to Chick-Fil-A and then sending them all to the play area and praying they stay in…do it!!  Talk about how crazy your kid is being, and if you’re hanging out with the right people then they will probably start doing the same.  I love spending time with adults, but seriously who wants to spend time with someone who pretends their kid literally never does anything wrong.  This chick ain’t got no time for that!  And since when did grocery shopping at 9 o’clock at night become the best thing ever?  I hate sacrificing time with the hubby, but for this I’ll do it.  Find some good friends to swap kids with so you’re not paying for sitters all the time and go out!  Heck, go out on double dates!  Just do it!!

The best thing about my little guy is on top of all the crazy he is the sweetest, most loving, best hug giver and cuddlier.  He does everything with extreme passion.  So that leads to my final thought….

4) enjoy the snuggles, the giggles, the hugs.  Relish in the moments when he picks up his toys, puts his dishes in the sink, goes potty like a big boy and plays well with his siblings.  That is really the secret to getting through the rest of it.

and just because I’m nice, I thought you’d like to see my latest video “Real Tales of Motherhood: Phil Phil wants my coffee.”

Do you have a toddler, or a crazy kid?!  Tell me all about it!?  Or do you have a tip? I’d love to hear it!