Toughing Out Toddler Torture
©Lisa Barker
Living with a toddler that talks
non-stop is fun. No, seriously.
Mine sounds like an auctioneer.
"Momma, can I have candy, candy, candy? Do I hear ice cream, ice cream, ice
cream? TOYS! Do I hear toys, toys, toys? GUM! No, make that crayons, no I want
bubbles, no let's walk, walk, walk. I want to go to the park, park, park. Do I
hear grocery store? Ride, ride, ride, I wanna ride the ride. Please can I ride
the ride? I NEED to ride the ride! Can I sit in the basket, basket, basket?
GRAPES! Can I have grapes, grapes, grapes?
I have so much sensory overload that
when the older children come home from school I practically dance for joy. The
meltdown of their brains can now begin while I scoop what's left of mine up off
the floor because it has melted and oozed out of my ear.
Why does he have to repeat
everything he says three times? Right now he wants lunch so he asks, "Momma,
can I have a potato for lunch? Potato for lunch? Potato for lunch?"
It's like living with a
self-manufactured echo.
Recently we had to visit the
pediatrician. We get in the van and my son starts bellowing: "MOMMA, DO I GET
TO SEE THE DOCTOR, TOO?"
I suspect two things. One, he has
inherited the "screeching eagle" gene from my side of the family. He sounds
just like my youngest sister whose nickname was Loud Mouth Lime.
Secondly, I should NOT have given
him that itty, bitty lollipop before we got in the van. That was too much
sugar.
If we were ever in a hostage
situation I'm positive that the hostage taker would surrender immediately. How
many times have I looked desperately out my van window as a policeman cruises
by and I mouth the words: "HELP ME!"? They never stop. They know better.
Once a policeman came to our house
and my son practically attached himself to his side. "Are you a policeman? You
ARE a policeman! I see your badge. Is that a real badge? I see your police car
outside! Is that YOUR police car? Do you catch bad guys? Hey, you have a stick
and a gun! Can I have the stick? Do you like to be a policeman? Can I talk on
your walkie-talkie? Are you going to arrest us? Are those handcuffs?"
I have to tiptoe into his bedroom at
night when he is sleeping just so I can catch a glimpse of his cherubic little
face. He looks so sweet and innocent and my energy restores easily. Until.
"Momma? Is that you? Can I have a
drink? Is it time to get up?"
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Jelly Mom™ is written by Lisa Barker, mother of five and author of "Just
Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent!" and
syndicated through Martin-Ola Press/Parent To Parent. To publish Jelly Mom, buy
the book or leave comments, please visit http://www.jellymom.com
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