Don't Retract Pack

52 Ways Life is Tough at Two



Life is tough. Some days more than others. And even more so when you are just two years old (or three, or four...). Life doesn't make sense when your entire universe is made up of what you can see and hear and feel right. at. this. exact. moment. The bigger picture hasn't formed yet, and egocentrism is a normal, healthy, temporary stage of development. Mental pain (via confusion, anxiety, disorientation, fear, loneliness, boredom, sleepiness, malnourishment, insecurity, etc.) equals physical pain at this age - and it is very real.

The next time your two year old (or three year old, or four year old...) has a meltdown because he can't find that tiny little rock he picked up at the park yesterday, remember: in his world this IS catastrophic. This is gravely serious, and rather than dismissal or distain for these tears and fears, he needs your loving arms wrapped around him - and maybe an adventure back to the park to find another special rock.

Excellent related reading on this subject includes Tackling Distress Tantrums with Brain Research, Why Spanking is Never Okay, the books: The Science of Parenting, Why Love Matters, and oodles of others gathered in the gentle discipline book collection.

52 53 Ways Life is Tough at Two
(By Danelle Frisbie with the help of her son and his friends,
and a few personal experiences from many, many years ago, and the tragedies they all overcame...)

I'm tired. 

The sun is too bright. 

There's yucky on my cup.

The straw has a hole.

My coloring paper is wrinkled. 

My brother looked at me. 

My rock is missing.

My stick broke. 

I can't play in the oven.

I can't fit in the dishwasher.

Netflix isn't loading Thomas.

I don't know the password on Daddy's iPad.

I'm hungry.

I put too much food in my mouth.

Someone touched my arm.

I'm too little.

I'm too big.

I can do it ALL BY MYSELF.

I need help.

That smells funny.

There's green in my food.

Mom is in the bathroom.

I don't know how to write my name.

I spilled.

The vacuum's too loud.

I can't carry all my toys at once.

I ripped my sticker. 

I want the blue marker.

No - the OTHER blue marker. 

This book is too heavy.

There's a hair on my shirt.

My vitamin is yucky.

I don't like lettuce.
(never tried it)

I want to eat dog food.

The cat's in my way.

I don't care if I wore this shirt 39 days in a row.

That shirt itches.

The snow is cold.

Why can't I touch my lit birthday candles?

I don't want to hug Grandma.

My shoe should go on either foot.

My socks got wet when I jumped in the puddle.

The back of my head tickles.

My balloon popped.

But ice cream is healthy food!

My puzzle piece Won't. Go. In!
(upside down)

My imagination shut down.

Can we go now?

I want to hold your keys. 

I bumped my toe.

And my other toe.

But I can't say 'Thank You!'

My brother looked at me again.


~~~~


Another fun read: 46 Reasons My Three Year Old Might Be Freaking Out by Jason Good

9 comments:

  1. Wow. this made me smile:) My little guy is 20 months old and a lot of these things really hit home. I am going to try to see the world from his angle more often.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love it love it love it! Thanks for making my day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fabulous! There should be a girls version! 'But i want to wear that princess dress (three sizes too small)'

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW that sounds like my kids! Haha made me laugh at least. Now I know its not just my kids throwing a temper tantrum like others have tried telling me. It really is catastrophic for them! And they just need comforting.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just awesome. It is so true and funny.
    This reminds me of what my daughter wrote when she was young - 26 things my little brother likes to do.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is funny yet very true. Just so sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I smiled every time I read a familiar line that my daughter has said at least once or more in the last week! (Its 7am, & i havent had coffee yet so that many smiles this early has started my day out amazing!:))
    I agree a girl version would also be cute, but one of my fav lines was "I don't care if I've worn that shirt 39 days in a row"...my girl adds ...in a row, "it makes me feel pretty momma, no one will see that spot!" I literally heard this past Monday morning. I had to battle her for a shirt she lived in over the wkend and then found where I had hid it from her,bcuz she wanted to wear it again, but to school not just our house!!!Even though I can't/didn't allow her to wear it again I couldnt help but giggle quietly bc I too wna wear a shirt I feel "pretty" in over and over again sometimes! :) LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS POEM!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. "My brother looked at me" LOL! this post made me laugh..
    we think life was much simpler as a child but now we know.. little ones have their own worries!:P

    ReplyDelete