I Have a Two-Year-Old

This morning after swimming lessons I went to Maceys to pick up some groceries. As we were walking to the car Jared took off running and another mom in her car said to me, "Isn't he just the cutest thing on two legs!" He was being good and I nodded in agreeance (is this a word?)

Off to Maceys we went. Jared loves shopping here because they have grocery carts that have a car in the front for the little tykes to ride/drive around in. Right away a worker gave me a smartie for my "little helper". I put it in my purse deciding he didn't need it right then. We got to the produce section and Jared wanted his own clear plastic bag to put items in. I gave him one and another worker came to us and gave me two more smarties. I gave one to Jared so he could put it in his plastic bag.

We continued to shop and Jared forgot about driving as he ate his smarties. Later by the dairy products Jared starts yelling at me. Unsure of what he wants I continue to shop. A little while later I stop so I can talk to him and see what's upsetting him. He gets out of the car and starts running the other way yelling my candy. He was looking for a smartie he had dropped. I told him it was gone and since it fell on the ground we couldn't eat it anyways. He was reluctant to get back in the car but I bribed him with the second smartie. He got in.

I was almost done shopping when Jared finished his second pack of smarties and wanted to get out again, this time trying to get out while still in motion. He succeeds and starts running off, to look for that lone lost candy and surprisingly he ran in the right direction.

I round him up in the car somehow without bribing him and we set off to the check out stand. Why oh why do they have so much candy up there!? I wait to push the cart by the candy until I'm sure I can push it far enough forward so Jared doesn't have to look at it dead on. But that wasn't good enough. He gets out of his car walks back and picks the closest thing he can to it. I told him he couldn't have it because he didn't listen to me earlier and do what I asked. He gets mad but is still reasonable. The kind lady checking us out offers him a little sucker and smartie. I really don't want him to have it but hey I'll let him have it. He doesn't want it.

What happened next is a blur now. I'm not quite sure how it all happened but Jared was NOT happy!!! I think he wanted to get the "bigger" candy and I said no. He started hitting me and yelling at me and I said he definitely didn't get any candy. Then he started reaching for the sucker and smartie and I told him he didn't get that anymore because he wasn't being happy. He screams like he's never screamed before. I try and cover his mouth which probably just made it louder! I take my hand away realizing that it's no use trying to stifle his screams but the best thing to do is to get out as quickly as possible. The bag boy asked me if Jared was tired and I said probably since he just got done with swimming lessons but he couldn't hear me over Jared's screams.

I could feel every eye falling on Jared and me. It was so weird but I didn't feel embarrassed. I think I was more amazed at the way Jared was acting. He's NEVER been like that before. As I'm walking out people are smiling at me that smile, "I understand". Just as I get outside Jared is wiggling away from me and I have to let go of the cart. But as I let go of the cart it starts rolling away so I grab it and Jared's fighting harder, still screaming mind you. Oh I forgot, as I was telling him he couldn't have the candy because he wasn't happy he was screaming back, "I'm HAPPY, I'm HAPPY!!!" and he screamed that quite frequently all the way to the car.

Back to the escaping cart and almost escaping child... Luckily Maceys is full of happy, helpful workers and a young lady came and asked if she could help me out. I gratefully accepted as she pushed the cart and I concentrated on Jared. We got to the car and I thanked her but she lingered so I opened the trunk and she started to put the things in the trunk. I worked on getting Jared in his car seat. You can imagine he did not want to get in that seat. Two year olds are tough! Again I found eyes staring at me and giving me the nod. Our helper was long gone before I got Jared in and I'm grateful she stayed to load the groceries in the car.

On the way home Jared cried for a little bit but soon settled. While driving home I was trying to decide if I should punish and be upset with him but decided he had done enough to himself already.

Long story but here's the lesson... One moment a two year old can be the cutest thing on two legs and then the child that every mom thinks, "I'm glad that's not mine!" Two year olds are fickle and oh how I love mine admist his tantrums. What can I say, he's TWO!!!