The big #2

The day is here. I've watched it approach with excitement, but also with some reservations.

My oldest turned 2 today. Yes, two! In addition to caring for an infant, I now have the strenuous task of being the mother to a tantrum-throwing, hair-pulling, baby-pushing, walking, talking, running, official preschooler. And I don't think I am ready!

The toilet training is one thing that comes along with a two-year-old. The upside to that is we can stop spending $100 a month on diapers, and instead only $50 or so. Wow, with the leftover money, I think I could put a pool in the backyard! My daughter is getting used to the idea of potty training. However, as an idea can be, it is still somewhat abstract to her - an occasional light pops up above her head, and she gets it. It's as if she needs to come up with it on her own! Whenever we ask if she needs to go, she answers with a prompt 'NO!'. If I set her onto the toilet, she will get right off and start clapping at what she has not done. Proving her independence, this child needs it to be on her terms. I hope she'll just let me know when I can stop spending an arm and a leg on diapers, and settle for just the forking out an arm for her sister's diapers.

Feeding a 2-year-old also seems to be a task. The last few months, I've noticed she eats less and less when we are sitting down to a meal, and more and more at times that are not designated eating times. Which is fine, most of the time. But if she thinks I am going to get up at 2 am to give her a piece of cheese, she's just as crazy as I am! There is so much exploring to do, especially if we are eating anywhere besides the familiarity of our kitchen. I don't know how we even get a single morsel of food into her mouth when we leave the house. Sometimes I even catch myself resorting back to the airplane landing - pretending a spoonful of food is an airplane, and her mouth is a runway. A trick that I currently use with my 8 month old. And now, again using it to trick my older daughter into eating a bite, before she's off - running around the restaurant, crawling under the table, once even running back behind the counter at a fast food restaurant. Maybe next time they'll put her to work, and all that energy could bring a little extra income home with it.

Finally, the tantrums. The reason this particular age is called the 'terrible twos.' The body thrashing. The head slamming against the wall, floor, table, whatever else is around. The screaming, yelling, crying all mixed into one big, loud, head-turning sound. Everyone stares - not only to see who is making this obnoxious scene, but how the parent (myself, most often!) will respond. This is when reasoning goes out the window. I have learned that rather than try to bribe, yell, scold or ignore, the best remedy to this particular situation, especially if I am the lone adult, is to leave the area. Several times I've left an entire cart or basket full of shopping items in the middle of the cereal aisle, dashing to the parking lot holding not just a hungry upset infant, but also an even more upset toddler (who weighs a lot when I've got her over my shoulder, her flaying arms, hands and legs away from my face!). All the work of getting to the grocery store and shopping a complete waste. At this point, I am usually too embarrassed to go back in the store, and I drive back home, defeated.

Tantrums, eating habits and the challenge of toileting aside, there are those cherished moments with my now 2-year-old that are irreplaceable. When she gives nice long hugs. Her wet, giggly kisses. The angelic expression on her face when she has finally dozed off to sleep. Hearing her say 'I love you,' without any prompting. The way her face lights up when asked if she wants ice cream. Watching her run across the playground and into my arms, growing up already way too fast. Yes, these are the fruits of my labors, the instances that make every other sour memory of her behavior just wash away. There is no way I would ever give any of this up, no sir. Being a mom of a two-year-old definitely gives me a run for my money. But being a mom of a two-year-old is also priceless.