The Challenge

Parenting has been more of a challenge these past few weeks than it ever has been. It's been harder than when Andy was an infant, and even though I'm getting more sleep, I do think I've been shedding more tears over the boys.

I'm not sure what is causing it, but I think it's a combination of the approaching holidays and Andrew turning two.

It's not just the "NO" factor, either. Andy does say "NO" to everything. Even if it's something he wants he says "NO" first and then quickly amends his reply with a "yes." But getting anything done with him - a diaper change, getting dressed, putting on a coat, putting away a toy, going up the stairs - usually requires a good deal of distraction, manipulation, and coercion. Also, he's a climber and a meddler and likes to remove clothing. I'll be trying to get the boys ready for school and Andrew will be writing on the walls with a crayon found under the couch, or grabbing a spray bottle of cleaner from the counter and "cleaning" the living room rug, or scrambling onto Steve nightstand and tipping it over, knocking everything to the floor, including a full humidifier.

Add to this Nate's insistance on being called "Starscream" and Nicholas's obsession with putting coins in his pockets and you have chaos. And this is before the boys all want to play with the same toy at once and hit each other over the heads.

All this has gotten worse with the holidays so near. There are so many special things, so many events, parties, concerts, gifts, traditions... I can hardly blame them. But I stil wish they'd cut it out.