Too Tired for the Terrible Twos

Something has occurred to me this week. Now, I’m being totally honest here, so be gentle. I’ve realised I’m too old to be raising a terrorising toddler, due to turn two in a few months. The harsh realities of the Terrible Twos have already begun. And I’m just too damn old and tired to do anything about it!

I’m currently in bed at … Let me check the clock. 8:15pm. Trying to write this post on my phone without typing too loud for fear of waking my little monster, aka Scout Una. It’s at night where she really comes alive. And things got a whole lot harder since she’s been able to yell “Maam-meeGouty need cud-dool!” at the top of her lungs. All that advice about closing all doors and ignoring their cries is useless when your child screams out your name seventeen times in two minutes – you try to ignore that! 

I was lulled into a total false sense of security with Sailor, my first born daughter. She slept well, exceptionally well compared to Scout. I had heard other people complain about their babies being awake for most of the night and I honestly thought my one night feed with Sailor was what they must have been complaining about. And, boy, was I so, so, so, so wrong! Little Scout slept perfectly in the hospital, and yeah I was a bit shocked by how noisy she slept, burping and farting and sighing and snoring, but I thought that was quite cute. And then …

When we first came home, I was just so thrilled that she was regularly feeding through the night and was concentrating on my ability to finally breastfeed my baby successfully (as I struggled breastfeeding with Sailor) that I didn’t realise she was kind of over-feeding for a few months. On my way to feeling what I thought was pretty exhausted, I went to my doctor to discuss if I needed to go to a sleep school with her. My doctor diagnosed silent reflux and prescribed a very low dose of reflux medication, and finally she would sleep for more than an hour and a half at a time. Until… her first teeth tried to make their appearance! And then pretty much every tooth in that little mouth of hers holds true memories of dates/nights and even the hours when my head never hit the pillow! But we survived! Hooray! Well it’s still ongoing but I keep telling myself, we’ve been through the worst of it?!?!? Denial perhaps? As most mums with crappy sleepers will tell you at the other end, it does get better. They might be referring to their now 15-year-old who is finally sleeping through after all these years, but I took their reassuring warm words and used them as my carrot on the stick to keep going. Who am I kidding? I have to keep going. No one would take on the giant challenge that is this little Scouty. Her cuteness is an instant distraction from her wildness but grandparents, family, friends would back up what I’m saying here – they’re all well aware of this child and her boisterous, unique ways.

In the past three days alone, she has grabbed my phone and called an old boss, a colleague from a very long time ago, Telstra, and pranked someone named Phil (twice now, sorry Phil). She’s hit her sister with an egg from the fridge. Filled her sister’s bed with shoes and covered it up with the doona. Drawn all over my hallway wall with chalk. Opened the back door after a bath and poured Princess Popcorn’s water all over her own head. Opened the lid on the bin and tipped it over and hand fed Princess Popcorn rubbish. Taken her shoes off and put them in the toilet and flushed them. Pretended to be a dog in Princess Popcorn’s bed and chewed on a gross pig’s ear (I’m so ashamed but this is true), and by far the worst thing… she bit Princess Popcorn on the shoulder – actually pulling out a small chunk of hair. OMG!! I heard them playing like they normally love to do, then I heard growling (Scout was growling at Popcorn) and then I saw Scout bite Popcorn and luckily saved the dog from this viscous toddler. And this was just the last few days… In the last year she has eaten kangaroo poo (a few times ugh), eaten a live moth, licked her water off my kitchen floor, scooped a cup of water from the toilet and had a sip before I could get to her, I’m so ashamed to say that she actually ate a bit of her sister’s vomit too – I’m so surprised she is still alive! I’ve felt like I’ve been a terrible mother but after talking to other Mums about their second and subsequent borns, I realise I AM NOT ALONE!! Some kids are just explorers. Thirsty for experience, knowledge and toilet water – gross!

Now all these stories of Scout’s misdemeanours when condensed into one post like this makes her sound like the devil, but she’s actually NOT naughty! She’s super inquisitive, she gets herself into trouble because she lacks fear and she loves to explore and experiment. Everything you would want your child to be, right? Absolutely! But the lack of sleep and the constant watching and chasing around the remaining twenty four hours is bloody exhausting! And, I think I’m too old! 

I just want to know, how on earth do people go back for a third child, a fourth or even a fifth? How do you keep them alive? I guess everyone is different and different situations and personalities give everyone a different experience. Being a mum is by far The MOST rewarding and fulfilling and heart-warming thing I’ve ever done in my whole life, BUT it’s also the most tiring, scary, sometimes soul depleting, emotional stripping thing I’ve ever experiencedBut how cute are children when they sleep? That’s when, and only then, do I think, maybe I could have another one? Luckily Scout hardly ever sleeps, hey?

Scout has the cutest little angel face but she’s been getting into mischief since she started walking at around 11 months.

 

 

Scout Una Denyer. No fear. Excited about taking on the world at a much faster pace than I’m ready for.

 

Scout and I in our pyjamas. She has slept through the entire night twice since she entered our lives.

 

 

These beautiful photos have been taken by my little Sister In Law, Kendall Mead-Denyer. This was our first Christmas with Scout. Even when she was this tiny she created a big stir in our family. The much loved little sister of our gorgeous Sailor let us know very early on that she wasn’t going to be pushed around.

  

 

Learning about parts of the face while injuring Mum.

 

She has had an obsession with toilets and toilet paper from very early on.

 

Hair styled with toilet water. OMG.

 

Turning my washing basket into a pretend race car.

 

Driving with her feet. This photo captures her entirely. She’s a dare devil adventurer who loves cars and trucks and trains and exploring. Very different to her older sister.

9 responses to “Too Tired for the Terrible Twos”

  1. Jacquie says:

    Hi Chezzi, I follow you on instagram…the one from Orange but now in Newcastle. I have 3 kids all born in 3 years…I started at 31 and wanted 3 by 35. My daughter is the middle child and Scout seems a lot like my daughter. she is 17 now and still noisy and hyper at nighttime and getting into scrapes. She was diagnosed at 13 with ADHD so needs ritalin on schooldays. Its just something to bear in mind.
    Incidentally if you go for a third child, they will be a placid easy going baby.

    • Chezzi says:

      Hi Jaquie,
      Thanks for your comments. That’s certainly something interesting to bear in mind. I thik I may have suffered from a little ADHD as a child, so it very well could be possible.
      Don’t think I will attempt a third child sadly. I’m also in line for twins and having two more children would definitely do me in!
      xoxo

  2. Leanne says:

    Hi, I was so lucky no terrible 2, but my girl never slept through the night until she was 2 – 3 years old had colic how I wished she would have just burped or farted but no screams up to her upteen times a night I constantly giving her infacol, I was sleep deprived zombie.
    now at 12 years old the farting is all the go and I say to her why did you not do that when you were little, as I said no terirble 2 just tweens , attitude , moods, hormones etc.. very much like a 2 year old .my cure is called miscato wine,and or scotch for me ” 5 oclock somewhere”.
    we love our children some days we could just !!!! but we just love them to death tantrums, moods and all.
    hang in there between 4 – 9 years old is better.
    cheers
    Leanne

    • Chezzi says:

      Awe thanks Leanne for your comments. You made me laugh out loud. Appreciate your humour!
      Moscato or Scotch, you say hey? Mine has been chocolate – and a LOT of it!
      We do love our kids, and I’m hopeful she will grow out of it but if not, I realise it won’t last forever. Thanks for stopping by and good luck with your gorgeous cheeky girl!

  3. Emma says:

    My son is 20 months and sounds exactly like your Scout! He has the most beautiful temperament and personality but his desire to explore is exhausting, he’s always getting himself into trouble. The picture of Scout standing on her little car – my son does exactly the same thing.
    He’s fallen back off the couch and smashed a window with the back of his head, broken the microwave, tried to eat a spider, broken the screen door. We’ve had to take handles off cupboards and drawers that we didn’t want to damage with child locks. He loves to climb up and over everything, especially the dining table.
    My first three were good sleepers so I wasn’t too worried about having a 4th but this one has absolutely exhausted me and the lack of sleep is just horrible. He’s lucky he’s so darn cute.

    • Chezzi says:

      Hahahah thank you SO much for sharing your experience Emma. I’m just so thankful to know I am not alone..
      You must be a much stronger person than I if you’re even considering a fourth child?!?!?! That sends shivers down my spine.. How do you do it?
      Thanks again and stay In touch. I enjoyed hearing about your little boy’s adventures xxx

  4. Donna-Rae Walsh says:

    I am the same as you Chizzi! My daughter is in her twos and she definitely has tantrums,she screams,throw things saids things like “Daddy do it” Mummy stop, l don’t like Mummy etc Plus her sleeping pattern is terrible no wonder im tired 😴 all the time hopefully Sophie will stop with all of this and she also thinks she’s the Boss not Mummy or Daddy! I would love to give you a big hug 🤗 Love ❤️ reading your blogs xoxo

    • Chezzi says:

      Aargh the terrible twos they say… Have kids, they say.. it’s be fun!! Your little Sophie sounds just so familiar! A spirited, independent little girl who you want to develop into a confident and strong young woman. There’s a real fine line with trying to raise this type of child, isn’t there… I wish you all the best. Sounds like you’re managing well and trying your best, even with some “throw the towel” in kinda days. Thanks for sharing.. And thanks for reading and commenting on my blogs. You are so kind!

  5. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will
    often come back very soon. I want to encourage
    yourself to continue your great work, have a nice evening!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Updates

Get latest News and Updates from Chezzi (One email when there's a new blog up... NO Spam)

© 2017 chezzidiaries
Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial