Growing Up is Hard To Do
Written by Sheree Echlin
“I’m going to send you to your room and you are NOT coming out until I say so”. That’s generally a line you might use on your kids, right?! Well I have used it before but now it gets used on me, among other things mind you, by my dearest darling Miss Izzie (just picture me saying that with gritted teeth). The biggest catch in it all is, she’s only four, not seven, 10 or maybe even 14, ages where backchat only gets worse and worse. Nope it’s already set in. Why is it that when a child turns four, all hell really breaks loose??
Defiance is strong. Attitude is through the roof. And they know absolutely everything. It’s four going on 14 and heading towards 40, hell I’m not even there yet! I heard the term four-nado a while ago and I’m starting to think it’s somewhat incredibly accurate. I believe there is another “F” word we could all use here but I know you’re already thinking it. I thought newborns were tough until I had a strong willed two-year-old. We hit the threenager stage and I almost laughed about the terrible twos. Fast forward to four and there are days I want to go backwards.
I swear sometimes I’m living with two separate children in the one body. One minute she’s a beautiful loving child and the next I think I’ve moved into the twilight zone. Okay, so maybe a little extreme but I can just picture parents of other four-year-old’s nodding in agreement. Partly because they no longer have the will to agree thanks to their feral four-year-old child who wants to dominate the world. Add a confident and cheeky two-year-old into the mix and I may as well pack my bags and head off to Fantasyland if I think I’ve got any chance of ever being listened to by my children.
The best advice I usually get is from my Mum. And sometimes I wonder if I get the worst advice too. She likes to tell me I used to be just like Miss Izzie and Miss Phoebe too. Thanks Mum (and Dad too sometimes) but not helping, haha! Just tell me I was better than my brother and that will keep me happy. Mum often likes to remind me this stage with my girls won’t last forever. Yes, I know that but right now feels like forever when my strong willed, independent, stubborn child(ren) won’t listen to me, yet again! Long days, sleep interrupted nights and what feels like constant bickering (a combination of me and them), can at times make me feel like the world is against me.
Lucky I love her (or them if they do pair up, which is often) is what I think many times. Although quite often I’m repeating a few swear words under my breath. Okay okay, so sometimes they come out much louder and yes, the kids hear me but I’m allowed a few slip ups now and then right?! I know it’s going to come back to haunt me eventually but I learnt from the best (right Mum and Dad?) so why not carry on the tradition?! I’m kidding!
There is always a part of me that’s hopeful my girls won’t be rude, ungrateful or downright little terrors. But even though it’s not all the time, it does happen more often than I’d like, they are kids after all. Most days I can be heard repeating some things like using manners or cleaning up toys, to the point I think their ears are painted on, but if I mention food or drink (especially chocolate), suddenly they have the best hearing imaginable. Go figure!
This is one thing that drives me crazy, although I know I’m guilty of saying it too and as they say the apple doesn’t fall from the tree! “I can’t do it” often gets thrown around for things that are generally quite easy for Miss Izzie to do as well. These are the moments I find the most frustrating and almost want to bash my head against the wall. I’ve tried telling her to try again and that she can do it, which eventually might work but not always. My babies are strong willed, independent little personalities when they want to be but know right when to either punish me or pull at my heart strings. I’m thinking there is plenty more in store for this “lucky” Mumma!
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