I Don't Like to Name Names, but...

In an attempt to avoid being that parent who says and does things that cause deep embarrassment to her children, I am very selective in terms of what sort of information I post here about the boys and their shenanigans. While they currently seem to think the computer is simply a bulls-eye at which to aim their toys, I realize one day they will become aware of the existence of this blog and I'd hate to have included anything about them that they'd rather have kept private.

That being said, I am having one of those weeks where I'm quite certain that if I do not voice my rapidly growing frustration I will lose my mind.

I have a certain child, let's say his name begins w/an "A", who has been having some, um, let's call them difficulties, w/his behavior. While no mother of a toddler lives a completely tantrum-free life, up until this point I have considered my firm voice, serious "you're in big trouble mister" glare and occasional time-out more than sufficient in keeping the hysterics and misbehavior to a minimum.

I'm not exactly sure what has changed, but for the last week "A" has been completely out of control. At Target, he was throwing groceries out of the cart and trying to swipe items off the shelves as I flew down the aisles grabbing only the absolute necessities that would keep us hydrated, fed and in clean diapers. At home, he cries and throws himself to the ground over such "horrific" events as not liking the color of his dinner plate or the end of Imagination Movers. He suddenly is hitting, pushing and - for the 1st time ever - biting his brother for absolutely no reason whatsoever. He laughs at my "firm voice", mimics my "you're in big trouble" glare and no longer seems to mind how much time he spends in time-out. All this from my sweet little boy who just weeks ago would apologize if a crumb fell on his chair during dinner.

All the books, you know the ones that make soooo much sense before you actually become a parent, say that its best to simply ignore these types of tantrums b/c apparently the experts feel things will only worsen if any sort of attention at all is paid to these behaviors. That's the strategy I've been sticking to those far - continue to enforce the rules in the same calm, but stern manner - but what was once my "firm voice" is reaching dangerously close to a tone I would describe as "shrill" and a few times has crossed over into a full-out yell.

I really don't want to be "that mom" - you know the one who you can hear screaming through her open windows phrases like "if you don't put that down right now I'm going to throw you in your room and leave you there until you don't even remember what the sun looks like!" (though I will say, I have more sympathy for her after the week I've had). At the same time, I want to raise a house full of well-mannered, polite little men who follow the rules and listen to me when I tell them to do something. Gosh, this parenting thing sure is hard!

Anyway, I'm sure its just a phase that will work itself out as all phases do, but in the mean time if you have any suggestions, can send me a pair of earplugs or a prescription for some Xanax please let me know :)