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I always thought age 3 was worse.

With my daughter, 3 was definitely worse. She never did all this crazy stuff though. It has to be a boy thing.

I always say, he wears me out physically, she wears me out mentally. She's a different topic altogether. EVERYTHING is drama! It started from the moment she was born. The doctor said that colic usually only lasts for 3-6 months. It's been 7 years!

And the dog, oh, the dog, who has affectionately been renamed "dummy", is just as bad or worse. He eats EVERYTHING that isn't nailed down. Not unlike my son, where we have been known to find the occasional sticker and even a googly eye in his diaper. It kinda freaks you out when you go to change their diaper and something's looking back at you.

But, you're all right. I wouldn't trade either one of them for anything. I don't think anyone would offer to trade anyway.

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...I need "It seemed like a good idea at the time." engraved on my tombstone...

LOL!! Thank you, that was great!! :)

Lady Lilac

[He eats EVERYTHING that isn't nailed down. Not unlike my son, where we have been known to find the occasional sticker and even a googly eye in his diaper. It kinda freaks you out when you go to change their diaper and something's looking back at you.]

When my second was getting mobile, we taught the first to be cautious of Choking Hazards, When we found a sticker in the diaper of our second, we then taught our first about Diaper Hazards. Even at 4, our son was able to tell the difference between the two. Somehow, thought he thought the diaper hazards were funny. There are certain things I just don't want to see in a diaper though.

Casey

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QuoteHis older brother have outlined eachother with desitin aka zinc oxcide on the new carpet -btw doesn't come out so we moved the bunk bed to the middle of the room!

So, how does one sell a house that has was appears to be crime scene chalk outlines on the floor?

Who says we ever left....haha - oh the memories - and just so you know my brothers have ALL girls and it alomost worse at their houses - their 2 yr old just plugged the upstairs bathroom sink left in running and now the living room ceiling is a water feature - if you call the aftermath of a huge brown water stain a water feature - but boy was it cool the first time !!! She sat and watched the rain - hehe!

I just bought my sis-in law a sign for her house that says "We've serendered to the children" she almost cried from the pure sentiment of it...; ) She had 3 in 4 years(sweet girls right?) - 5 all together -don't ever make fun of women with lots of kids - karma will bite you if it can !!! She is a living monument !

happy hunting, enjoy the journey,
teekasue

Yup. Three is just like two only they can TALK. Somehow the cheeky comments make them infuriating rather than annoying-but-cute.

Fiddleheads (just finished with a three, coming into a two in a few months...it never ends)

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Take notes. Then when he brings girlfriends over in his teen years (and later), get your revenge with a little game called "Remember When...?"

Better yet -- film it. I have tons of "blackmail" tapes just waiting for those teen years. I imagine that the threat of releasing them onto the internet for their friends to see could be "motivational" to following the rules...

The other thing is, now is the time to "lay down the law". Rule consistency with consistent, effective consequences is key. Otherwise it will get worse with time. My sons were hell as babies. By the time they were preschool age, however, they understood in no uncertain terms that Mom ALWAYS had some consequence waiting-- and it didn't matter if we were in the store, at a friend's house, etc. It was very hard sometimes, but it was worth it. Now they (and me) get compliments when ever we go anywhere.

this continues to work into the teen years...The consistent discipline fairly laid on during youth, stays with them. Mine is sixteen. The rules have not changed, but they have been loosened slightly to give more latitude for freedom and choice-making as she closes in on adulthood. However, the everything-has-a-consequence has not changed or loosened, and she is still generally well-behaved everywhere we go. (she drives, I knit).

Keep up the good work, Mom, and keep dishing out equal parts love, discipline, and respect...teens are no harder than twos.

nw

Of course in a few years I'll be dealing with teens... *sigh*

I find teens and toddlers to be very similar - they believe the world revolves around them, that nothing will happen to them only to others, everything can wait till the fun part is over - who needs to get anything done?, and last but not least they still listen(most of the time) and love their mom - if you start with love and limits they will make right choices and they will be able to be proud of themselves - and for me that is ultimately my job !!

Enjoy the ride! It is a rollercoaster - we are the safety bars so hold on tight enough to keep them safe but let them hold their arms out and scream on the big dips....it has been and continues to be the best ride of my life.....and it continues......at least 13 more years with short people in my home - the first 16 went by like a blink .....slow down or you might miss it!

teekasue

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I have tons of "blackmail" tapes just waiting for those teen years.

Why does this not surprise me? If we had an operational video camera, I might do it. Especially when mine have decided that bathtime is an appropriate excuse for streaking... ;-)

Knit Wit

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"It seemed like a good idea at the time." engraved on my tombstone

And sometimes those people that caused you to say that.. never grow up. Marmalade and I have taken this as our boxing motto. We seem to say it an aweful lot.

Maiden

I am suprised my neighbor hasn't called CPS on me yet...my then 18 mo old LEFT THE HOUSE in the few minutes i was in the bathroom. by the time i did my business, pulled up my pants and washed my hands, the door bell rang. Irritated that i can NEVER go to the bathroom without being disturbed by SOMETHING I opened the door to find the neighbor with my son in hand. She said she found him TWO DOORS DOWN-pushing the stroller in front of him. How the heck does a 18 mo. move that fast-and with a stroller. This has happened TWICE with this child and once with my oldest. Of course it was the same neighbor each time who found the boys. Thank God, but still- it is quite embarrassing! She must think i am the worst mother ever!!! At least they occured over a span of five years, but still! I now have a chain lock on the inside of the house so my now 2 1/2 yo can't bolt. Sheesh. He is quite the stinker- climbs up everything- ie- 6 foot bookshelves, stoves, pantry shelves, countertops, etc. Also dumps everthing out and has flooded the bathroom on numerous occasions by turning on the hand held shower and playing 'car-wash.' Mind you this does not occur over hours or even 15- 20 minutes when i am not 'watching' him- these are usually bathroom moments for mommy or when i run downstairs to check on the laundry. These messes occur over FRACTIONS of seconds. Like when i blink. At the end of the day i ask my husband "Did we really have kids ON PURPOSE?'

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Not unlike my son, where we have been known to find the occasional sticker and even a googly eye in his diaper. It kinda freaks you out when you go to change their diaper and something's looking back at you.

LOL!!!!! and *snorting*

Thanks for my laugh of the day!!!!

Mama Fox

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GENDER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!!

I agree....my 4yr. old DIVA is the worst of the two!!! Her older brother is turning 7 next week, and he has been an angel up until now!!

He is in the Mr. Attitude stage, and fusses about every single thing I say!!! *definate preview of his teenage years*

SHE is the one that jumps off of the furniture, licks the stamps she gets from school off of her hand, destroys brothers toys by tearing the stickers off ( she has a little fetish! ), tried to stick just about everything in the electical plugs, and even managed to get a foreign object stuck in the "unmentionable place"!!!!

I just KNOW the principal and I will be on first name basis by the time she is in 2nd grade!!!!

I LOVE THIS BOARD!!! ;)

moonshowr

She's a different topic altogether. EVERYTHING is drama! It started from the moment she was born. The doctor said that colic usually only lasts for 3-6 months. It's been 7 years!

Hey my daughter's 11 and the drama continues only now there's a boy involved somewhere. SO hang in there it gets worse. :)

-HG

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bathtime is an appropriate excuse for streaking...

That is old hat in this house....we now have the "naked dance" at bathtime! My almost 7 year old came up with that one, and the Diva has taken to it with a relish!! She always was one for being "free", though!!! ;)

moonshowr

Ok, so the day after the dipping toilet water out and dumping it on the floor, he's at it again.

I was laying on the couch suffering from one of my many migraines (wonder why), and he was playing with his cars in the corner behind the couch. I remember thinking, gee, he's being so good. He was back there forever, but I didn't worry because I could hear him playing with his cars. At some point, I got up to let the dog outside, and I saw it. He had scooped out half of the dirt from the potted plant in the corner, dumped in onto the toy chest, and was running his cars through it like a dirt track! There was potting soil EVERYWHERE! I couldn't even yell my head hurt so bad. I just cleaned it up.

I was going to strip and refinish that toy chest since it was mine when I was little and I just got it back, but if that's what he's going to do it, I don't see the point, really. Ugh, how can something so sweet, be so bad!

I just wonder what's in store for me today. :(

[URL=http://www.slide.com/s/9IINK9UQ6j8wuPRfwkgVuYwUuXzNztiu?referrer=hlnk][IMG]http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/4/S/50000000c77bc77/1/107/1bd0YAFj5j8RLsZO31_Vnytavc7NXFar.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

LOL!!! Thanks! That was great!

♥ Lady Lilac

What a laugh I just had, reading everybodies stories! I too have a boy now 4 1/2. I never understood why the little old grannies would look at him and say "boy is he cute, but he has the devil in those eyes". I would think to myself why do they keep saying that, he is my cute, sweet, boy. Then he turned 2. He never did play with a poop transporter. He is not a behavior problem just the class clown, makes us laugh all the time.
Subeespak

What a laugh I just had, reading everybodies stories!

Me too.... I have to say, that although I don't have kids of my own, I may still need to add this board to my favorites... the stories are FAR TOO FUNNY! I'd like to put in another vote for the "My Kids are Driving Me to Drink" board!! :o)

HPL

I have to say that I am in the same boat as the rest of you. (I'm still trying to get a gallon of maple syrup removed from the sofa cushions - any tips?? - Oh, cat litter "sprinkles" were also added to the syrup to "make it look pretty")

I did make a "my kids are driving me to drink letterbox over the summer - check it out if you are nearby:
http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/showboxinfo.html?gBoxId=49033

Somebunny

That is old hat in this house....we now have the "naked dance" at bathtime!

We used to have naked time after all baths for the older two (now 8 and 10). We discourage that behavior now, as they are growing up WAY too fast ;)

My fav story of naked time was when they were about 1 & 3 years old. It was summer time, just after bath and they were downstairs looking out the front door at the new boys on the street as they were playing ball in the street. My girls just stood in front of the storm door (which is all glass, by the way). The boys took one look and went running into the house.
The next day when I was talking to their dad he said that they were really freaked out!
We don't have much contact with those neighbors - never did - hmmm I wonder if it's all related?!

"boy is he cute, but he has the devil in those eyes"

About 4 years ago, I took the kids to see Santa at the local mall (he's a great looking Santa with really blue eyes and his own white whiskers and hair).
The kids were 6, 4 and 10 mos at the time. We got a great pic of them with the baby crying :)
The best part was when we were finishing up and Santa puts his hand on the middle one's head and said that same phrase..."This one has a bit of the devil in her, doesn't she mom?" I swear to this day that he is the REAL Santa! There's NO way he could have known -- she was on his lap for about 30 seconds and didn't even say a word. Amazing!

Pasta Mom

I love little boys. That's why I've got two of them. Different as night and day, but both extremely unconcerned with the possible deadly consequences of their "experiments".

It doesnt get better...I have a just turned 16 year old who has in the past:

been banned from the school rooftop playground..because he tried to jump off the balcony..for fun.

Ran away from the school bus in kindergarten, actually he is a bit infamous, was taken to school twice in kindergarten by the local police department for running off the school bus and hiding...He didnt like kindergarten or any grade after...

When he was about 5 I heard a bunch of neighborhood kids outside my living room window whispering. The LR was below his bedroom...when I peeked out..he was hanging..preparing to jump to get outside and off time out.

Umm since this past summer he found it hysterical that he flipped a four wheeler while jumping it off what he though was a hill, but turned out to be a cliff...
you can all breathe easier. He isnt getting his drivers license yet. Ive refused to sign the paper.

His mantra..and if you ask him his mom slogan for him...

Alive at 25! Ive been saying it FOREVER!

:-) Gotta love him

I'm sorry about your migraine but that picture is just way too cute!

Thanks,
Knit Wit

OMG! You have my sympathy!

About the driving thing... My oldest (10) asked my husband when he can get his driver's license. My husband said, "When you're 30."

We've seen the way he drives those cars in his PS2 games... ;-)

Knit Wit

We've seen the way he drives those cars in his PS2 games... ;-)

Umm ,yeah..I took him driving in a parking lot...and as we went around the corner on two wheels..with him spinning the wheel with one hand...
Me screaming: " KEEEEEEENNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN, its not a VIDEOOOOOOO GAAAAAAAMEEEEEEEE!!!"
Followed by: STOP the CAR..GET out!! and him...What did I do?

Yeah, I think I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from that one day. :-)

We don't do the naked dance around here. I had to stop letting my kids take a bath together when I walked in to find my 2-y.o. daughter and 5 y.o. son playing "ring toss" with his body part! It was hilarious, but of course I couldn't let them know!

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He had scooped out half of the dirt from the potted plant in the corner, dumped in onto the toy chest, and was running his cars through it like a dirt track!

Well, yeah Mom, you have to have dirt for the dirt track :)

Sorry about the migraine though.

They say: This too shall pass.

Don't know if it's true or not, still waiting myself.

Janet, Blooming Flowers

That was so funny that I woke up my sleeping 7 month old. Glad I have 2 girls :)