Well, here were are... 2011. Chris has been on my case to write another entry for my blog and, truthfully, I've tried. I've had a blog block. Can't say that it is gone but I am feeling a familiar twitchyness in my fingers, a feeling that usually leads to half an hour of typing out random thoughts I didn't even know I had. So here it is. My first entry of the New Year. Get ready to be inspired.... or not.Cameron will be two years old next month. Yikes! How did that happen so fast? With that celebration also comes the dreaded "terrible two" syndrome that our culture talks of in hushed yet knowing tones. But wait, if his birthday isn't until next month then where is the current rash of attitude-lased behavior coming from? Oh yeah.... it's pre-terrible two-itis. The actual date doesn't have to arrive in order for the whines, tantrums, and out right defiance to kick in. No, they are definitely in full swing already. Lucky us!
There have been hints of the 'tude' for the last couple of months. It was this past week however that brought the full on change. It all started when Chris caught a cold. No, you don't understand. Chris NEVER gets sick. This means that in order for Chris' rock hard immune system to be compromised, a super bug has to be present. If said super bug breaks down his defences and is brought into our home then Cameron and I don't stand a chance against it. Within days of Chris becoming stuffy headed, red nosed, and generally acting pitiful, Cameron started to follow suit. When the fever kicked in, lil man wanted nothing more than to snuggle. Snuggle all morning. Snuggle all afternoon. Snuggle all night. No food. No drink. No play. No smile, talk, anything. It was as if a zombie had replaced my once active child. It was a bit disconcerting... to put it mildly. I spent each day wiping an unstoppable nose. Shielding the house from a dry, hacking cough. And at the end of the day, I had the pleasure of peeling off my mucous covered clothes in the desperate hope that the germ in question would be kind and skip me all together. Two sick males in the house is tolerable enough to handle as long as the female taking care of the sickies stays healthy. No such luck despite Clorox wipes and Lysol spray. As I sat on the couch one night I literally felt the germ take up residence in my head. It settled in and by next morning I was stuffy and gross too. Our home officially became a zone of unending ooze and spittle. Isn't that just a lovely picture to paint?
I digress though. Thankfully we are all on the mend. The point of this entry is this, upon coming out of his zombiness, Cameron' s tude began to show. Right out "No's," VERY selective hearing, meal time reluctance, juice snobbery, and one other thing that I know will be the cause of deeper crows feet around my eyes. Whining. Dear Lord, the whining. All verbal communication has gone out the window. In its place is whining, pointing, tantrum throwing, and let's see.... more whining. What happened to my son????? I knew this was coming but I had no idea it would hit now. Perhaps I've been naive. I must have an overdeveloped pride in my son's skills and aptitude. Maybe, just maybe, I thought we would cruise through the dreaded two's with little to no battle scars. Please God, if this is only the beginning.... bless me with patience. And promise me Dear Father in Heaven that my son will come through this to be well mannered and still loving his Mama.
Of course I joke... a bit. What is happening is natural, or so I have been told. All my years in the classroom only taught me how to create a controlled environment. The world, however, is HUGE and provides ample opportunity for embarrassing outbursts and multiple discipline opportunities. Will I succeed? Will Chris prevail? I hope the answer is a resounding "yes." As the New Year gets on its way so do all sorts of new trials, adventures, and life moments. I'm a little nervous. I cringe in the same way I used to cringe when it was time to clean up dog doo in the backyard or when I have to plunge a recently used but now plugged toilet. The situation isn't fun but in the end the experience as gotten you through the poo and life is better, cleaner, fresher. Odd example perhaps but strangely inspiring at the same time. Get through the inevitable crappy moments and the end result will be well worth the work.
I love my family. I'm glad I get the privilege of facing a new year with them. Colds, whining, and who knows what else aside.... I am so thankful to live this particular adventure. I'm living my dream. Gotta go for now.... time to change a diaper, clean the kitchen, start some dinner, change the paper in the bird cage, so on and so forth. Until next time.
God Bless!
