This little ripper is feisty. She is a girl who knows what she wants, let's you know what she wants, and let's you know how she feels if she doesn't get what she wants. She's never been the baby who could just roll with it, definitely not a "chill" baby. Honestly it doesn't bother me. It gives me hope that she will be a girl who isn't easily pushed around and stands for what she believes in. But there are times when the stubbornness, the tantrums and the melt downs get OLD. Charlotte is a screamer. If you get in her face and she doesn't know you, she screams. When she gets upset or something taken away from her, she screams. I'm not proud of this. It's not like I encourage this behavior. I try very hard to help her keep her cool, and calm down, sometimes I can, sometimes I can't.
Well....I recently had someone comment to me on how baby is such a screamer and how "funny" that was. This person, not at the time of this incident, but in the past told me that her children were never screamers. Oh really? I'll be honest, it made me feel bad. It made me feel like I was doing something wrong because my child was a screamer. I went home feeling like I was a bad mother who couldn't control her own child. Now deep down I know in my heart, I'm doing my best. I'm trying to teach Charlotte to be a controlled, polite, person but let's be honest the girl is only 16 months old for crying out loud. She is a toddler. It's normal for kids to throw tantrums, but it's never fun to have someone else point it out in your own children.
Later that week I received an email from babycenter.com that gives me a weekly update on what's average behavior/development for the age of my child. I couldn't help but smile when I read this.
So maybe this particular mother never has had a screaming child, lucky girl, but I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one whose children have melt downs and throws tantrums. Perfect timing to receive this email update right?
Let me tell you a little bit more about this crazy Charlotte.
1. She doesn't like her hands messy. If she gets something on her hands she rubs them together like she is dusting them off. I think it's so cute. It makes her seem so grown up.
2. She recently learned to walk on her tip toes and it's so cute. She'll be walking along and then all the sudden she's up on her tip toes. Cracks me up.
3. She's naughty. If we tell her no she will go and hide and continue the behavior we had told her to stop. SUCH. A. PICKLE.
4. She's up at 6:00 a.m. every freaking morning. Doesn't matter what pajamas she wears, if her blankets are on or off her, if her door is open or closed, if she falls asleep at 7:15 p.m. or 8:00 p.m., or what kind of nap she had earlier in the day, she is up and ready to go at 6:00 a.m. This bothered me for a long time, but after trying what seemed like every possible idea to help her sleep longer and nothing changed, I've finally come to terms with it. It will be great in the summer when it's so hot outside and we can just go for our run nice and early when it's still cool outside. (Trying to be positive about having such an early bird)
5. She loves climbing on things. She has no fear. Scary.
6. Charlotte loves to come up behind Mike or me and scare/tickle us. She thinks it's the funniest thing and we do too. She can come up behind us ten times in a row and she still laughs just as hard every time. It never gets old for her. She's hilarious.
7. Charlotte smells everything before she puts it in her mouth to eat it. Actually she smells everything (whether she's going to eat it or not) these days.
8. She loves to be outside, rain or shine, cold or warm. Oh how I wish the weather could just stay 50 degrees or above so we could be outside everyday. In January 40 degrees is warm and pleasant, now that it's May 40 degrees feels bitter cold.
Seriously Charlotte makes us laugh every day. She has such a feisty personality. Although at times it can be frustrating to have such a strong willed child, I really do love it. I really believe I will be learning a lot more from this little ripper than she will from me. Isn't that what having kids is all about?
11 comments:
I love that you are writing down all these little things that she does and likes. You will be so glad you did! ...and your friend? believe me her children are "something" everyones children are something! You just can't hear what her kids do. I had a biter, a shy wallflower that wouldn't let go of my leg, a drama queen and a whiner!!!! They're all normal, just like your adorable little "screamer"!!! Love her <3
Laura. I loved this post! You probably get so annoyed by me always saying this, but we really need to get our girls together. They have many similarities! I don't know if you read on my blog, but during some of Audrey's recent tantrums she has been holding her breath until she will make herself pass out! Yep, she has a bit of a temper!
In my years of parenting, I have had similar comments to the one that you received. I too have had very strong willed tempered children. At first it did bother me- especially when others around seemed to make me feel like it was something I was doing. But, it is so not the case. These kids come with their own little personalities. One of mine is very calm and chill, while my other two are very strong willed. But, I agree with you that I have learned so much from them and when I get comments from people now a days.. I just smile.
How is that for a super long comment!? Maybe we should get together one of these days to chat and then I won't leave you major long comments!
You are such a great mom and doing a wonderful job! She is so cute. Oh and believe me, mine were all screamers! :)
i am seriously so sorry you have a screamer. my kids both are just so chill. oh laura, good luck with her. i am sure if you take more time to help her, she will learn to calm down, like my kids. really. it will just take more time.
oh, i am so funny.
our girls sound SO MUCH a like. Ruby is a screamer, too. If I walk in the wrong direction I get screamed at. Now she is also throwing herself on the floor in massive tantrums and fits. It's awesome.
Charlotte is such a pretty firecracker. I love it.
and ps, i am sure you are the best mom ever. how could you not be?
see you at 8am. i hope you are in the mood for an 11-12 min pace. :)
Oh Lar she is so cute! Isn't it so awesome how we can see such potential in our little stubborn babes.
PS lately Halle has been pretend playing like she is my friend, and her name is Laura and her baby 's name is Charlotte. She likes you, and so do I. Even if I don't get to see you, at least I am pretending I do. :)
That turtle kills me. For every scream she does she makes up for it with her little laugh. I love her too much. Fisher (my baby) cries when his hands are dirty. He can not handle it.
Ummm, have you read my Jack tantrums? I'd be jumping for joy if I only had a screamer!! He's a spitter, kicker, pincher, biter, thrower, naughty-pants and he does it to strangers because he knows it will get to me and that's the sole reason he does it. Menace to society. I'm thinking maybe I should be fixed.
She's adorable and you are doing fantastic. There's always a snottypants lady who's going to make comments. I've found offering for them to take Jack for a month to fix him up has helped stop the sass :)
Love Charlotte and love that Mike has a screamer! Don't ever compare to other moms and kids. It's a losing battle. Everyone has some aspect or stage of life that is challenging. If they think they don't, it just hasn't come yet!
Love Katherine's comment! Funny!!!
Proof that our kids come to earth with personalities of their own! Kids scream and do all sorts of things at all the inappropriate times too.
Remember the more difficult the child the better of a person you are :)
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