An Appropriate Follow Up Post

I am physically exhausted.

I was explaining my extreme tiredness to my mother in law recently. I was certain that I had some kind of deficiency because, despite adequate sleep, I am plain wore out by the end of the day.

She sweetly put it into perspective: "Christy, you are a mom to a toddler. " Oh, I am supposed to feel like this? This inability to function past 9pm is normal? This is my new normal??? (said in shrieking voice)

Uhhh, they didn't mention this in any book I read!!

And, I thought that dealing with a newborn on little to no sleep was difficult......I am not sure I can survive toddler-hood!! It's a whole different ballgame, ya'll.

And, Andrew walking is really the least of my troubles. At least now we can go walking outside, and I don't have to worry about how I am going to get the grass and mud stains out from the knees of his pants.

I guess I wasn't prepared mentally or physically for the getting off, getting on; picking up, putting down; wrestling into, wrestling out of; screaming here, laughing there; throwing this; cuddling that; whining one minute, crying the next; tired for two seconds, catching a 'second wind' for thirty minutes.

Maybe being a toddler is like being on a roller coaster of emotions. Is it the same for the mothers of toddlers? One minute I just want to kiss and hold him all day, the next.....I want to follow his lead and beat my head on the floor!!

It's exhausting. But, as I was rocking that sweet thing to bed tonight (rocking is a rare occurrence these days) I reminded myself that, in the grand scheme of his life, these three or four years of being a toddler are so short. I need to just enjoy his cute, sweet self now and learn not to stress over his mood swings. Some days that is easier said than done. But, I'm trying........