The devil inside

I have a little confession to make:  Up until last month, I rarely felt all that bad for parents who complained about their kids hitting the terrible twos.

No, not because three is worse (though it is, until they become teenagers.  Or so I’m told).

You see, my older son is a screamer.  He shouted from dawn ’til dusk about any and everything for much of the first months of his life.  He threw tantrums like nobody’s business WAY before age 2, so by the time he got to the dreaded 2 1/2, we were more or less used to it.

Sebastian is perfectly lovely in many ways, but he is an emotional child, and when he is upset, everyone knows it.  I may have mentioned before that I used to think that other children had been muted when they would cry, because they in no way rivaled my son’s three-alarm-fire-engine-siren when he was mad.

So when friends would complain about their children throwing tantrums – “Like two or three every day!” it took all I could do not to say, “Oh, POOR YOU.”  I wanted to keep my friends, after all.  And I did understand that tantrums and headstrong children are difficult, so I mustered up as much sympathy as I could until I could change the subject.

Now, however, Theo is two.

Don’t be fooled by the adorable face. A two-year-old demon lies within.

My little ray of sunshine has, seemingly overnight, become a thundercloud that rips through our house once every hour or so.  I must admit that it is harder on me than this time was two years ago.

Not that I was out of practice, of course, because Sebastian stills throws the best tantrums of them all.  {He is currently adding shrieking at the top of his lungs to his repertoire.  The kid could go pro if anyone were inclined to pay for his performance.  Anyone?  Anyone at all?}

I think it’s just massively unsettling to have a child who is more or less easygoing suddenly turn into a whirling dervish of opinion and “ME DO IT” and fall-on-the-floor sobs.  It’s like someone has robbed you of your child and put a little demon in his adorable clothes.

But then, just like that, the angel is back.  The one who randomly says, “I LOVE you, Mama!” and gives me a huge smooch when I’m not looking.

I’m no longer fooled, though.  I’ve learned that the devil inside will be back soon.

So I hug him back and kiss his pudgy cheeks and cross my fingers that maybe…just maybe?… this time three won’t be worse.

6 Responses to The devil inside
  1. Eva Gallant
    August 23, 2012 | 6:17 am

    He may be a demon, but he sure is cute! I just stopped by from SITS to saay hello; hope you find timne to do the same.

  2. Melissa @ Completely Eclipsed
    August 23, 2012 | 6:33 am

    I’ve had my fair share of dealing with my daughter’s devil lol. She was a very, um, vocal baby. But once she hit two she became a pleasure…really sweet. Then she turned 3 and the dormant devil woke up. Although we’re not always dealing with tantrums, it’s more crying and an attitude that I was sure I wouldn’t see until she was 16. Kids are insane.

  3. Missy @ Wonder, Friend
    August 23, 2012 | 7:30 am

    Oh, my three year old is so much like that, too. He’s the sweetest, love-bug ever. Until he’s not! And I can never guess what will send him into a complete tailspin… Keeps us on our toes. Ha.

    I know my oldest threw some monster tantrums around the 2-3 year time period, but I think I blocked most of it out. We have to remind ourselves that yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And yes, he’s still a good boy even if at times he appears possessed. 😉

    • aunt julie
      August 24, 2012 | 1:33 pm

      How hysterical! I can remember when we saw Mathew’s first “throw down and kick your feet” kind of tantrum just shortly after he turned two. We looked at each other and then back at him and started laughing saying “what in the world was that?!”. Jenna had never shown that kind of behavior and it took us by such surprise. Mathew started laughing with us and I think we only saw it a couple more times – laughing over and over! Maybe investing in a good pair of earplugs would be a good option! : )

  4. Jennifer
    August 27, 2012 | 12:08 pm

    Those overly emotional years are killer. I remember one time actually looking around and thinking, “WTH happened to my child?” It was that foreign to me to have her act that way.

  5. Jessica
    August 28, 2012 | 12:45 pm

    My youngest has always been a handful of a child but it seems now that she is 3 she is getting slightly less of a handful. Hopefully that gives you some hope.