Instructions NOT Included

So what do you do when instructions are not included? Usually you can google the product, or find some sort of help line to help you. Why isn't this the case with kids!?

Jason and I have found ourselves at an intersection with our oldest - Joshie. He's a 2 year old (28 months) who thinks he is 5 and doesn't need to take a nap any more....This might seem like an insignificant problem, but the problem really isn't in the nap issue - its in the discipline department. There comes a time when kids aren't as easily distracted and their desire to explore and exert their independence and boundries becomes VERY apparent. This is what we are dealing with.

Our normally very compliant little boy who would regularly go down for a nap right after lunch with Jenna is now climbing baby gates, stealing toys out of the toy room and smuggling them into his room, "spanking" back, yelling, and ultimately being very defiant. It leaves us exhausted and puzzled as to what his "instructions" would say to do in this situation....I guess we will just have to find out on our own how to tackle this new challenge and guide him in this time of growing.

Instead of spanking now, we have seen this doesn't hold the same authority as it used to, we now give him a 2-minute time out and take away certain priveleges. We've also adjusted his nap time to be a little later - like 1:30 or 2:00. He is aware of wanting to do things like "ride in daddy's big truck" or "watch Cars" or even play with Jenna. When these things are taken away, or he has to sit out of play-time, its almost like a death sentence....for now....

I've often times said that "growing up is so hard, and being two is just so terrible. When you think about it - it really is! You have a little person who is learning how to live - what's right and wrong, and the boundry lines of everything. They are learning so much intellectually as well. Our little boy might be the size of most 18-month olds, and sound like a 4-year old, but deep down he's just 2...and learning the ropes....just like his mom and dad are with being the best parent they know how to be.

I'm thankful that he's young and hopefully by the time he's able to really remember things he will remember when we got it "right"....but somehow I think we will be learning until he's married. And of course Jenna is completely different than he is, and this new baby will probably be completely different that both of them are. So much to learn - such an adventure in doing it though.