I swear that I feel like I am going to have a nervous breakdown soon. There's nothing like an almost two year old's(2 years old on May 18)bad antics and behavior to bring you down to your knees.
I'm getting a "bad mommy complex". I feel like I can't do anything right with this kid. She cries and cries and pitches a fit for no apparent reason. All I did was ask her to get out of the car the other day and just that simple request started a 45 minute long crying tantrum. I left her on the ground next to the car and took my things into the house thinking that, surely, she will follow me or ask me to come and get her. NOOOO, she sat on the ground and refused to come in. When I went to pick her up and bring her into the house, she started another crying fit. I just had to leave her in the hallway and walk away.
After 15 minutes of continuous crying, I went to see if she was ready to stop crying. She wasn't ready to stop, of course, so then I was going to leave again. That wasn't the right thing to do. No, not according to Keira. She came and dragged me back and so I thought, ok, I'll try to give her a hug and see if we can kiss and make up. Well, that just started her crying even more. She pushed me away with this "get away from me attitude". Then when I go away, she cries even louder. It's like this. Go away. Come back. Go away. Come back..but don't touch me. YOu can only x inches from me.
This goes back and forth and back and forth for almost everything. Every day. I have no idea what sets her off to a crying fit. I can't seem to do anything right. She's the model child for her father. Now what is up with that?
I searched on the internet today under "My 2 year old is driving me crazy", thinking that maybe I might find others who are in the same situation as me. It was AMAZING. There are tons of mothers in the same situation as me with terrorizing 2 year olds that act in exactly the same way. Some of them have dealt with it for several months now and I am only dealing with her behavior for a week.
I can't believe that a two year old can make me feel so incompetent as a mother. I wonder every day if I'm doing something wrong or if I've done something wrong to make her act this way. Come to find out. It's probably the terrible two's. Oh yeah.
I guess I'll have to dig in my heels and wait this one out. I am the adult. I am the boss. I will prevail. Gulp!....
Friday, May 7, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Catching up
Argh! I see that I have been remiss in keeping the blog updated this week. I have no clue where the time went. I can't believe it's already Wednesday.
Well, let's see...the weekend was nothing to write home about. The weather on Saturday was the shits. It was rainy and cold and windy. In addition to that, it was a holiday. May 1. That caught me by surprise. I think that it caught everyone by surprise. The little corner grocery store on Friday evening was jam packed full of cars and people. I had gone to the store around 4:00pm to pick up some milk and was thinking to myself, "gee, wonder why it's so busy...."
Per called me later to tell me that Saturday was a holidy. What does that mean? EVERYTHING IS CLOSED. That's right. Nevermind the fact that it's a Saturday and that people will most likely like to shop...spend money....stores have a chance to make some good change. NO. No one wants to work on that day. So I had to go back to the store around 8pm to shop. By that time, the store shelves were pretty picked over. Nothing much left there.
Saturday, as I said, was not so nice weather, but Keira and I had a great time while Per was downstairs working. We put on some dance tunes, danced around the room, played hide and seek, made pancakes for breakfast, colored, put stickers on everything that didn't move and watched some TV. That daughter of mine is a really good dancer. You never know..she might even show up so "So You Think You Can Dance."
Sunday was great weather. We had a nice picnic at the local barnehage and Keira went up and down a very steep slide. I was impressed that she did it because when I went up to the slide to try it out, my heart was in my throat. It was scary!!!
I've started a new workout program called P90X. I have been good about it since Sunday. (you're supposed to workout 6 days week with this thing). It feel SOOOOOOO good to workout again and I hav to say that the DVD's are great. The guy is motivating and fun and I feel like I have my own personal trainer right in my living room. Love it!
Ok, here we are at Wednesday. I can't believe that it's already Wed. I was in Denmark yesterday....up at 4am, if you can believe that. I even managed to workout last night when I got home. :)
Here's some pics from the week:
MMMMMM..I love BBQ ribs!
Coloring fun on a Saturday morning!
Look! Horsie! Pee yew!
Picnic!
I can go down this slide...yes, I can!
Ok pappa, let's go...
Being dropped off at the barnehage...so cute with her matching lunchbox
Well, let's see...the weekend was nothing to write home about. The weather on Saturday was the shits. It was rainy and cold and windy. In addition to that, it was a holiday. May 1. That caught me by surprise. I think that it caught everyone by surprise. The little corner grocery store on Friday evening was jam packed full of cars and people. I had gone to the store around 4:00pm to pick up some milk and was thinking to myself, "gee, wonder why it's so busy...."
Per called me later to tell me that Saturday was a holidy. What does that mean? EVERYTHING IS CLOSED. That's right. Nevermind the fact that it's a Saturday and that people will most likely like to shop...spend money....stores have a chance to make some good change. NO. No one wants to work on that day. So I had to go back to the store around 8pm to shop. By that time, the store shelves were pretty picked over. Nothing much left there.
Saturday, as I said, was not so nice weather, but Keira and I had a great time while Per was downstairs working. We put on some dance tunes, danced around the room, played hide and seek, made pancakes for breakfast, colored, put stickers on everything that didn't move and watched some TV. That daughter of mine is a really good dancer. You never know..she might even show up so "So You Think You Can Dance."
Sunday was great weather. We had a nice picnic at the local barnehage and Keira went up and down a very steep slide. I was impressed that she did it because when I went up to the slide to try it out, my heart was in my throat. It was scary!!!
I've started a new workout program called P90X. I have been good about it since Sunday. (you're supposed to workout 6 days week with this thing). It feel SOOOOOOO good to workout again and I hav to say that the DVD's are great. The guy is motivating and fun and I feel like I have my own personal trainer right in my living room. Love it!
Ok, here we are at Wednesday. I can't believe that it's already Wed. I was in Denmark yesterday....up at 4am, if you can believe that. I even managed to workout last night when I got home. :)
Here's some pics from the week:
MMMMMM..I love BBQ ribs!
Coloring fun on a Saturday morning!
Look! Horsie! Pee yew!
Picnic!
I can go down this slide...yes, I can!
Ok pappa, let's go...
Being dropped off at the barnehage...so cute with her matching lunchbox
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Cultural differences
There's been several times in the past year that the hubby has just off-handedly mentioned to me, "Hey, we need to get Keira christened." "Ok," I would say absently and continue doing what I was doing.
A few months go by, he'd mention it again and he'd get the same response. Since we were in Germany at the time, there really wasn't any hurry to get this done yet and really, we thought that it would be best to plan it when we moved back to Norway.
So, we come back and Per mentions it again..."hey, we need to get Keira christened."
I couldn't for the life of me understand what the big deal was. I thought that we would just get to it when we got to it. It's not like we were lacking in things to do, especially with the move back to Norway, starting to work again and so on.
I finally booked a date for the christening a few weeks ago and as it turns out, it's the day after what I thought would be Keira's big 2 year old birthday party. In my mind, the big event was Keira's birthday party and not the christening, so it would be ok to have them back to back. I've been in birthday party planning mode...going back and forth about the invitation list, activities, what to serve, etc. blissfully unaware that the christening was a big deal.
How did I suddenly get the shocker that I didn't have my priorities set correctly? I was mentioning to a colleague of mine that I should probably cater in for the christening because I wouldn't have time to cook and plan, with the birthday party and all. Did I have to have a cake? I asked her. She got this look on her face--like "Uh, yes. You need to have a couple of cakes. You also need to bring out the good china and the silver too. Some people wear their bunads to this. It's a big deal."
What?!?!?!?!?!?
When I heard the words..silver, good china, and bunad,then it hit me that maybe it's not the regular casual event.
It's not THAT big of a deal in the U.S. Normally, we just get family together, we go to the church, and then we have a meal together afterwards..no stress...no silver...no cakes...not super dressed up.
Puh. So I had to re-arrange my priorities last night and have decided that I am not super woman and cannot manage two big parties back to back, especially with family staying the whole weekend. I'll downsize the bday party to family and I'll expand the christening list to include close friends and family, focusing a lot more effort on the latter.
Geez. Who knew?
A few months go by, he'd mention it again and he'd get the same response. Since we were in Germany at the time, there really wasn't any hurry to get this done yet and really, we thought that it would be best to plan it when we moved back to Norway.
So, we come back and Per mentions it again..."hey, we need to get Keira christened."
I couldn't for the life of me understand what the big deal was. I thought that we would just get to it when we got to it. It's not like we were lacking in things to do, especially with the move back to Norway, starting to work again and so on.
I finally booked a date for the christening a few weeks ago and as it turns out, it's the day after what I thought would be Keira's big 2 year old birthday party. In my mind, the big event was Keira's birthday party and not the christening, so it would be ok to have them back to back. I've been in birthday party planning mode...going back and forth about the invitation list, activities, what to serve, etc. blissfully unaware that the christening was a big deal.
How did I suddenly get the shocker that I didn't have my priorities set correctly? I was mentioning to a colleague of mine that I should probably cater in for the christening because I wouldn't have time to cook and plan, with the birthday party and all. Did I have to have a cake? I asked her. She got this look on her face--like "Uh, yes. You need to have a couple of cakes. You also need to bring out the good china and the silver too. Some people wear their bunads to this. It's a big deal."
What?!?!?!?!?!?
When I heard the words..silver, good china, and bunad,then it hit me that maybe it's not the regular casual event.
It's not THAT big of a deal in the U.S. Normally, we just get family together, we go to the church, and then we have a meal together afterwards..no stress...no silver...no cakes...not super dressed up.
Puh. So I had to re-arrange my priorities last night and have decided that I am not super woman and cannot manage two big parties back to back, especially with family staying the whole weekend. I'll downsize the bday party to family and I'll expand the christening list to include close friends and family, focusing a lot more effort on the latter.
Geez. Who knew?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Overachievers are overrated
I've been struggling with finding time to workout. I've got all kinds of excuses, or maybe they're not excuses, but the reality of the situation, of why I am not able to do it...I'm too tired. There's not enough time. I'm too tired. I'm too tired... There's not enough time. I sometimes feel like I'm a broken record.
I've been having a lot of problems with my back recently, a lot of the pain is due to the fact that I don't workout anymore (don't have strong muscles to support my back) and I am back at a desk job. I snuck away for a chiropractor appointment yesterday and boy, did I hear it from him! He's been telling me this for weeks...that I needed to do some physcial activity...walk in the forest (hahahah..NOT), weight training, back training, etc. because I'm in pretty bad shape.
For the life of me, I can't seem to find the energy to do it. I think a part of it is due to going to sleep at 11pm and waking up at 5:30am. Then, I'm go go go for most of the day and when I put Keira to sleep at night, the softness of the bed and the dark, cosiness of the room make me fall alseep for 45 minutes and then when I wake up, I'm definitely not in the mood to work out and it's getting late.
I was lamenting to a friend of mine this weekend about the lack of time and the tiredness that I felt and how I always felt guilty about not doing what I KNOW that I'm supposed to be doing. She said something very smart to me...and I guess I should have figured it out myself. But, being the overachiever that I am, I kind of don't wander down this path...I'm an all or nothing gal. If you can't do it right, then don't do it at all.
She said that this was a stage and that it would change when Keira got older. Instead of focusing on what I used to do (workout 6 days a week), I needed to set a goal like maybe 2-3 times a week and be happy if I manage that. Life is too short for feeling guilty for stuff that I can't help. All mothers go through this and it's not just me.
She has told me this before--about setting goals lower, but that was before I had a child. I used to think that she was a little lazy for saying that she would only work out 2 times a week and she was happy with that. I used myself as a comparison and a Jennifer with no kids, and all the time in the world, could work out 6 times a week.
Well, now the shoe is on the other foot and I truly understand why she set that goal and why she was happy. It certainly beats setting the goals high and never being able to meet them.
So, now, I'm going to try the new way. I will try to work out 3 times a week. If I make that, then I've done great.
I've been having a lot of problems with my back recently, a lot of the pain is due to the fact that I don't workout anymore (don't have strong muscles to support my back) and I am back at a desk job. I snuck away for a chiropractor appointment yesterday and boy, did I hear it from him! He's been telling me this for weeks...that I needed to do some physcial activity...walk in the forest (hahahah..NOT), weight training, back training, etc. because I'm in pretty bad shape.
For the life of me, I can't seem to find the energy to do it. I think a part of it is due to going to sleep at 11pm and waking up at 5:30am. Then, I'm go go go for most of the day and when I put Keira to sleep at night, the softness of the bed and the dark, cosiness of the room make me fall alseep for 45 minutes and then when I wake up, I'm definitely not in the mood to work out and it's getting late.
I was lamenting to a friend of mine this weekend about the lack of time and the tiredness that I felt and how I always felt guilty about not doing what I KNOW that I'm supposed to be doing. She said something very smart to me...and I guess I should have figured it out myself. But, being the overachiever that I am, I kind of don't wander down this path...I'm an all or nothing gal. If you can't do it right, then don't do it at all.
She said that this was a stage and that it would change when Keira got older. Instead of focusing on what I used to do (workout 6 days a week), I needed to set a goal like maybe 2-3 times a week and be happy if I manage that. Life is too short for feeling guilty for stuff that I can't help. All mothers go through this and it's not just me.
She has told me this before--about setting goals lower, but that was before I had a child. I used to think that she was a little lazy for saying that she would only work out 2 times a week and she was happy with that. I used myself as a comparison and a Jennifer with no kids, and all the time in the world, could work out 6 times a week.
Well, now the shoe is on the other foot and I truly understand why she set that goal and why she was happy. It certainly beats setting the goals high and never being able to meet them.
So, now, I'm going to try the new way. I will try to work out 3 times a week. If I make that, then I've done great.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Lazy Sunday
This girl of mine woke up at 6am today. Sunday. 6am. I thought that there must have been a HUGE mistake when she rolled over on me with a big smile on her face. I groggily glaced at the clock to check the time. No. No mistake. Sigh.
Here she is lounging in front of the TV watching an educational Sesame Street while I'm in the kitchen desperately trying to make my first cup of coffee.
Here she is lounging in front of the TV watching an educational Sesame Street while I'm in the kitchen desperately trying to make my first cup of coffee.
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