Beatrice is almost two and a half, and boy, what a change from two!
Last night I was at a parents' educational meeting hosted by the preschool where parents could ask questions of a visiting child psychologist. We went around the room talking about sleeping problems, eating problems, tantrums, jealousy, aggression, and when we got to me, I found I had nothing to say.
Now before you think I sound too smug, remember that Beatrice was a terror from around 18 months to just about a month ago - constant tantrums and meltdowns and so physically aggressive I could hardly take her anywhere for fear she'd attack another kid. And now, miraculously, she is so easy! Just totally amiable and what's more impressive for a toddler, reasonable. This morning she was insisting on wearing "party shoes." "No," I told her, "you have to wear your boots, it's too cold for party shoes." "Oh, okay," she said, "I like my boots, too." This morning she asked for more juice while I was changing Arthur and when I told her that she said - and I'm not kidding - "That's okay, I can wait." Who is this toddler?
She goes to bed without complaint, eats what she's given, is nice to her brother and to her friends, listens to her parents and teachers, makes mostly fair and reasonable requests, and accepts being told "no." She's very loving and kind, too - the other day I was stressed out because an exterminator was coming and I had to bundle all the dogs and babies in the car and get them out of the house by myself. "You need a hug!" she said and came and hugged me.
What happened? I think it's a combination of getting used to Arthur, the good influence of preschool, and of course, just getting a little older.
I know enough to know this is all very temporary, though, so I'm going to enjoy this as much as I can before the next wave of terror begins.*
*And lest you feel too jealous of me, I might add that Arthur has been driving me nuts this month.
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Sounds perfect!
ReplyDeleteWhat is Arthur up to then?