« Discipline in the Lester home | Main | Reading time at the Lester household »
July 14, 2004
stresssssed out
MOTHER OF GOD.
Quinn has suddenly become completely high-maintenance. I'm so frazzled by our morning that I am having trouble thinking. I was going to work on organizing my office while she slept, but I think I'll sit here in front of the computer, slack-jawed and sedentary, for a while.
Last Friday night, Andy and I took Quinn to see her first movie, Garfield (Bill Murray, seriously, what are you doing????). She did really well, surprisingly, and wanted to stay until the very last credit had rolled (a trait she picked up from her father, no doubt).
So today we rounded up our friends Amy and Collin to go to a 10:00 showing of Cats Don't Dance at a local theater. The web site said to get there at 9:30 for the pre-show entertainment. Do you know what that entertainment was? Sitting in the darkened theater and listening to "YMCA" over and over and over again. I'm not even kidding. OVER AND OVER they played it, as if these were not children, but instead deaf people.
The movie itself didn't even start until 10:20, at which point Quinn told the entire theater that she WANTED TO GO HOME! I am surprised that there was not applause from young and old alike when I finally whispered goodbye to Amy and Collin and escorted her out the door.
What the hell??
When we got home, I planted her butt in front of an episode of "Dora" and tried to relax. Then she helped me make her lunch: frozen chicken nuggets that we cooked in the oven. When I served it to her, with slices of cheese and some carrots and a glass of milk in a Dora cup, she WIGGED OUT. She tossed the cheese aside, horrified by its presence on her plate. She cried because I hadn't let her select the carrots herself, and insisted on returning them to the bag, even though she'd licked some of them. Then she (purposely?) spilled the milk all down her shirt. And did she eat the nuggets that she'd carefully selected from the bag and lovingly arranged on the cookie sheet? No. No she didn't. Did she sit and play with her abandoned food? Yes. Did I finally carry her, screeching, up to bed for her nap? And did I change her diaper and toss her in bed, not caring if she had the right amount of books and if the right stuffed animals were in the right arrangement before I left the room? YOU BET YOUR ASS I DID.
MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, this can be a stressful job.
Posted by Amy at July 14, 2004 2:15 AM
Comments
Parenting is the toughest job there is. Hands down. You are doing a fine job, Amy. Quinn is simply "asserting her independence" and making sure you know who's the boss. So your job is to let her grow, express, and learn, but set limits, tough as that will be to do. If she skips a meal or two or five, she won't starve. And, cheer up, this stage lasts only, um, let's see, about 17 more years!
Posted by: Grandma Lester at July 14, 2004 4:21 AM
Parenting is the toughest job there is. Hands down. You are doing a fine job, Amy. Quinn is simply "asserting her independence" and making sure you know who's the boss. So your job is to let her grow, express, and learn, but set limits, tough as that will be to do. If she skips a meal or two or five, she won't starve. And, cheer up, this stage lasts only, um, let's see, about 17 more years!
Posted by: Grandma Lester at July 14, 2004 4:22 AM
Yes, Amy - you the mama now! Those toddler and preschool years can be hard, and yet so rewarding! Like all cherished children, Quinn is driving her parents nuts at times! This too shall pass. I survived - you will too. Let's hope unscathed!
Posted by: Valerie in NM at July 15, 2004 1:19 AM
You must have been exhausted after that fun day! You have to wonder how any little person who can look so sweet and innocent can throw such a thorough fit. And for no apparent reason.*Hang in there. You'll have lots more sweet and precious moments!
Posted by: Patti in Montana at July 15, 2004 4:16 AM
She must be gonna turn three soon? I'm a moron, I can't remember when her birthday is (oh, there, checked, yes, three in a few months). Amy, the months leading up to Rebecca's 3rd birthday were, without a doubt, the hardest ever. Within a few weeks of her birthday, it was all over, I'm suprirsed I lived. Some of the things remain (like the carrot thing, I relive that scenario a few times a day, she must pick her own everything and if I forget, we have to START ALL OVER FROM THE BEGINNING), but she's mostly gone back to being a pleasant person instead of that high-maintenance nightmare child. Fortunately, the crazy talking keeps me laughing, so I'm less inclined to take up toddler-smothering...
Posted by: Aimee at July 24, 2004 10:34 AM
Hello every body
Posted by: amy quinn at October 14, 2004 9:15 AM
Hello every body
Posted by: amy quinn at October 14, 2004 9:15 AM