Big Busy Days and Breakdowns

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[media-credit id=68 align="aligncenter" width="216"][/media-credit]This past week has been kind of busy for us. The Toddler and I are used to being stuck …trapped …at home with each other pleading to the gods for sanity enjoying quality time and fighting over the tv remote bonding over arts and crafts. Last week, The Toddler was subjected to a dental check up and a well child visit on the same day. (Apparently I’d lost my mind.)

This time the dentist thing went very well. (Six months ago she sat in the chair and screamed, “No! No! I want hug! I want hug!”) She laid back in the chair, didn’t panic when they turned on the big light, and she even opened her mouth and let them clean her teeth and use the sucky straw thing. She waited patiently for the dentist and didn’t freak out when she showed up in her protective Darth Vader mask and eye goggles and held still while the dentist poked her teeth with the pokey thing. Afterwards she picked out a toy and a new toothbrush and The Toddler was awesome. **So proud.**

Later that day (because I suck. That and because this way Daddy only misses one day of work. It’s Daddy’s fault.) we went to the pediatrician. The Toddler played nicely and walked to the nurse when our buzzer went off (the only doctor I’ve been to with one of those vibrating thingies that restaurants use). This time there was no crying or screaming or pleading for mercy at the scale and height room. She was still highly unhappy with the scale and height things. I had to hold her and get weighed and then get weighed on my own so they could subtract and figure out how much The Toddler weighs. (ARGH!) And Daddy demonstrated how to stand up against the wall and put the height measurer on his head.

And then we pretty much had to arm wrestle The Toddler into position, slide the thingy down quickly and duck and cover once it was in place. (This is why we let Daddy come too — he should be enjoying this as much as I am.)

But after that it was so smooth.

Until the doctor noticed The Toddler was still wearing Pull-Ups. “Pull-Ups, Mommy? She’s three.” >insert look of disdain<

In my head I was thinking “Exactly! She’s THREE.”

Apparently every other baby is potty trained before they turn three. With my other kids I didn’t even start trying to train them until they turned three. They either couldn’t tell if they had to go or had no interest. The Toddler has had little to no interest. I can buy her Pull-Ups and take her to the bathroom…but there’s only so much I can do. (You can lead a toddler to the potty, but you cannot make him go.)  She just turned three…I mean…was the glare necessary? Like I’m a bad parent now because my toddler is in Pull-Ups? It could have been worse…she could have been in diapers which would say “I’m in denial, she’s still a baby.” But no…I didn’t even get points for switching her to Pull-Ups…doesn’t that imply that I’m trying to teach her something?

Then over the weekend we did some shopping. Read this to mean that we’re usually more tired on weekend days than usual (I don’t know why), and when she’s tired one shopping trip is enough. And Daddy, when he’s at the grocery store doesn’t go up and down aisles and plan meals on the fly or even just throw interesting things in the cart on the way around the store. Daddy will have one idea in mind and run back and forth through the store getting things or searching in vain. Repeatedly. A normal shopping trip with Daddy takes about an hour and a half and is about 5 miles long. After that I’m ready to go home and collapse. The Toddler usually makes it through that with no problems (unless she’s tired).

We also went to the other store. The one that sells clothes and snow tires and cheap jewelry. We picked up our layaway and walked around the store picking things out for the next layaway. This took AGES. Even *I* wanted to whine and lie on the floor saying, “Come ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.” Again…hours went by.

But then we got home and Daddy got to hang up curtains which was an adventure in itself. You can read about that over here.

I try to leave you with a moral or a thought or a pick you up but right now I just want to take a nap.

I just heard Forest Gump in  my head “Busy is as busy does.”

Yeah, I don’t know either.

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Elisa Ashley (24 Posts)

Elisa writes a personal blog (ElisaAshley.com) in return for Ho-ho's and Banana Colada Fuze, ghostwrites for her daughter Abigail at The Abby Gales (www.abbyrory.blogspot.com) and also played the part of Ginger on Whisk-ers In Kitchens (www.whiskersinkitchens.wordpress.com). She resides in Alabama with her invisible friends and an unending supply of sunscreen and nail polish.