This Is Just a Stage...This Is Just A Stage...This...is....just....a....stageeeeeeeeeee

I know that there are stages with growing up. My goodness, I'm still going through stages myself! So I often wonder why I expect Lydia to just "get it!" To just understand what I would like for her to do, AND DO IT! *I'm sure if there are veteran moms out there reading this, they are probably making fun of me right now* :)

Anyway, lately Lydia has been so very emotional. And by "so very," I mean like WHOA! It seems from the time she wakes up to the time we put her down for the night, she has undergone a consistent bout of emotional breakdowns. It usually starts 10-15 minutes after she gets up in the morning. Something will set her off and she is ruined. Quite frankly, so is mom. And it just continues throughout the day! By the time I put her down for bed, I'm done. I'm burnt out. And I only have ONE child!!!

Here is the result....Gotta love the Time Outs :)

What's going to happen with a newborn set to arrive in three months and a two year old toddler who is producing the same amount of estrogen as a grown woman?!?!

I'm not trying to be facetious; it's true! My wonderful mother gave me a book by James Dobson entitled, 'Bringing Up Girls.' Dobson elaborates that from the time of three months to three years, little girls' ovaries produce the same amount of estrogen as a grown woman! Can you believe it?! My little pumpkin is right in the smack dab middle of an estrogen bath!!! Her emotions and hormones are so invasive that she does not understand or know how to deal with these changes. It goes on to say that from the age of three to eight years, their body stops producing and there is more of a leveling out of hormones. (Amen, Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!) Then from age eight to menopause, the female body picks up the estrogen surge yet again. This book has really been eye opening to-say-the-least. I always knew, being a woman who has no doubt been hit with the estrogen mother load, that having a girl would have it's share of challenges, but I never realized that babies/toddlers undergo SO much hormonal change in their tiny bodies. I just thought it was a "terrible two" stage and that it's just a kid thing. WRONG!

So with this knowledge in mind, I have started out the last couple of days even more determined to regain my ground and embrace patience as the foundation of all my interactions with my little princess/diva. It's crazy how best intentions melt away when fatigue and frustrations set in. I'm worn out by the tantrums and the unruliness that is currently my daughter. It would be okay if it were a Tantrum Here, and a Tantrum There. But in reality it's...Here a Tantrum, there a Tantrum, everywhere a Tantrum TANTRUM. Oh McMommy had a farm...E-I-E-I-OOOOOO!

I'm trying not to become discouraged with how tired I become. I am proud to say that at least for the first few days of these all day emotional meltdowns, I was able to keep my cool and talk and work with Lydia in getting through and understanding her actions and how if affects others. But I think I reached my breaking point today. I just felt like I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't reason or talk patiently with her. I couldn't take her hand and try to instill Biblical principles that are so crucial in helping her little heart be open to the things of God. I felt like a complete zombi and had no desire to try anymore.

I'm so grateful for my husband. He has seen my frustrations and attempts at being patient, and he has been such an amazing help and support to me. He even canceled his previously scheduled basketball game tonight with his friends, to stay and take Lydia from me so that I can rest and vent on my blog :) Thanks babe, you're a life saver!

Anyway, I know I'm not alone in the frustrations of raising kidos. It's all apart of the journey and I know this is a stage; there will be more stages similar to this that will come as my little lady grows up. I'm aware that it continues to become challenging in each stage they go through.

I think of something a great friend told me on one of our mommy times together. She said that these first few years of life with our little ones are really a gift and a blessing from God to mothers. It's not like Lydia is going to remember the sacrifices I have made or the time I have spent or the opportunities and experiences I have given her at the age of 2. Time is fleeting and I NEVER want to look back on this chapter of my life and remember it as primarily being a tiring, constant battle for sanity and rest. I want to look back on this time with Lydia with sweet abundant memories that, in reality, only I will really remember.

I love you Lydia. I love my sweet, over emotional, bundle of energy. You are precious. Even when you drive me crazy :)