Entering the terrible two's phase

Is there really a terrible two's phase? Must every child in the world go through that phase? Sometimes I refused to accept it that it exist. But the reality is my child is already two years old. So whether she is in the terrible two's phase, I'll let you be the judge.

Some people say that your child will be more demanding and misbehave more when you're expecting a second child. I'm not sure whether this holds true or not. But I can't remember exactly when it started, lil' dahling never fail to get up every single night and make my hours of sleep lesser and lesser. And this is not even with the second baby around yet. I don't dare to imagine if the second baby arrives. Will I get just a wink? Every night is nearly the same thing. Yesterday, she sobbed softly with intervals in between and without moving. Usually, I just stay still as a log but feel like smacking my husband when he starts moving a little. Lil' dahling will start sobbing louder once she hears movement. So, I still let her be until finally she started calling me. Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? That's the cue for me to pick her up already from her cot. I tried negotiating with her in the wee hours of morning to let her dad pick her up instead of me since I'm pregnant now. But nope, I'm not a good negotiator it seems. It's as if her dad's hands has disease or something. She wouldn't let him touch her except me. Husband also gives up easily because he hates being disturbed from his sleep. Heloooo...who doesn't? So poor me had to pick her up. I felt the baby in me kicked me one time as I picked her up as if to say LOSER! Then it would be a different battle everyday. Either she would fall asleep at once or go on and on talking or show tantrum or demand for milk. I couldn't help laughing the other day, when she closed her eyes shut but only opened her mouth to ask for milk. She didn't get any respond from me but I was actually staring at her. She slowly opened her eyes to look at me but realized I was watching, she quickly shut her eyes and continued her acting. So I gave her milk in the end because she wouldn't stop saying those four letter words. (MILK, what were you thinking? :P) Anyway, yesterday she woke up twice! The second time was at about 5a.m. Her talking woke me up. Sounded so chirpy some more. I wouldn't sound that chirpy if I woke up twice in the wee hours of morning. She even called me up and asked me to 'sayang' her. This continued until my alarm clock rang at 5.55a.m. I went to brush my teeth and she followed me. Not long after, she informed me that she wants to do her 'business'. Lah..no wonder she woke up early.

Everyday I would be the one to pick her up from the nanny's house and nearly everyday after we've reached home, she would picked one dvd from her collection of dvds and asked me to play it for her. Usually, I would allow it because it gives me some 'me' time. She will sometimes pull me to the refrigerator and ask for ahkult (Yakult) or sheesh (cheese). Her latest craze now is drawing with her latest set of colour pencils. She'll asked for her colour pencils and paper. This latest activity doesn't really give me 'me' time because she wants you to sit beside her and draw together with her too.

Has anyone tried the time-out method? I've tried it twice. Of course I felt guilty afterwards but I didn't show it. I did the first time-out when I was in Malacca for CNY. We were suppose to take our afternoon nap but Eliza didn't went to sleep at once. She was talking, singing and banging on the headboard for about an hour. I told her to go to sleep many times until my volume got louder. When I couldn't take it anymore, I suddenly resort to the time-out method. I carried her into the toilet and locked her inside for about 45 seconds. She was wailing and banging the door the whole time. Once being released, we are not suppose to comfort our child. So I just kept my cool and explained to her why I did it. I don't know whether it went through her brain or not but she co-operated with me and really went to sleep. After that incident, I used the word "time-out" as a sort of threat to get her to co-operate.

But of course the time-out method doesn't work for long. Just when it started to "lose its appeal" I used it again like a refresher course for Eliza. LOL. She was not co-operative for many days. I had to practically beg her to come and get herself cleaned up for bedtime. It was so tiring that finally I decided to do the time-out method again. I did the same thing again and earned her co-operation once again. I told her to say sorry and she said it obediently still sobbing. I was worried she would be traumatized but this method has been used by many. Still I don't hope to use it the third time.

Going out is also a challenge. She might not want to be in her stroller all the time. Sometimes we don't even bring the stroller along. Kids will be kids. So when she sees something that catches her eye, it won't be easy to remove her from that spot. I've tried many ways of persuasion and even end up shouting. My husband even had to carry a kicking and screaming girl away from her spot. Then I discovered something which still seem to work. Which I hope will work forever. LOL. The magic words. I just say "other things". Like "come let's go see other things" or "we are going to see other things". She'll follow at once like magic! My husband couldn't get it right the first few attempts. You see, he didn't say those magic words. Once he started using it, it worked. So mothers out there, maybe you can try this next time. Wouldn't guarantee it'll work for your kid. But you can try it all the same.

Eliza was recently down with flu. So I took her to the doctors. My sister in-law accompanied me because my husband couldn't be back on time. The clinic closes at 9.30p.m. Anyway, Eliza refused to enter the clinic. Had to drag her in. She wasn't like this before. When the nurse called her name, she started crying on the top of her lungs. My sister in-law volunteered to carry her in. But she kicked and screamed. We were actually called into the waiting room so because of the commotion she had to ask us to wait outside and she'll call us in the doctor's room later. Her crying didn't stop until we enter the doctor's room. I couldn't even hear what the doctor was saying. After a quick check on Eliza with her struggling on my lap, he chased her out with my sister in-law. LOL. I finally could have a quiet time with the doctor. He said Eliza must've been extra rebellious today because her aunt was around. In other words, he said she's a lousy aunt for spoiling Eliza. LOL. I agreed because she wasn't like this before at the clinic. I hope she won't repeat this again because it's truly embarrassing with all the stares from the other parents. And you know what? While we were waiting for Eliza's medicine, another baby was crying in the doctor's room but wasn't as loud as Eliza and Eliza had the cheek to say, "Baby, ku ku" ( ku means cry in mandarin). Yeah right, you cried even worst, Eliza.

So terrible two's phase or not, as far as I hope the phase will soon be over, she is still my precious daughter. It can be a funny experience when you look back and laugh over it. Moms have to take it as a challenge and accept it. But if it is not too much to ask, can I please have my sweet angel back? :)

Another story

This post was suppose to be for last week. My friend encouraged me to write about it since she said it's therapy. The day after that horrendous night, I was so anxious to put lil' dahling to sleep again. I did the bedtime routine but after reading story book, she already anticipated what was going to happen next. So she quickly jumped down from my lap and walked away. She knew I was going to put her into her cot. She seemed to be avoiding sleep and seemed to be afraid of something. My guess is the insect she spotted on her blanket which left her in a screaming and crying fit. Scared the bejammers out of me. I then persuaded and persuaded her to get into bed. Telling her there's nothing to be afraid about but she kept shaking her head. I really lost my control. I think I was near insanity. I stomped out of the room and drop on the dining chair and sobbed uncontrollably. Lil' dahling tailed me and I think she was quite surprised and yet continued talking to me. She even took her little red dog(Patrick) and put on the table, beside my elbow. She also tapped my arm a few times, calling after me. With tears still streaming down my face, I picked up my phone and dialled for my husband. With a very controlled voice I asked him what time he will he come home. He gave me a vague answer and asked me how is lil' dahling doing. Upon hearing that I shouted at him and told him that she refused to go to bed and I've lost all wits already. He sounded afraid and promised to come home at once.

I mustered myself and went into the kitchen to prepare only 2 fl oz of milk. Lil dahling already looked so tired but she just pretended to be active. A mother knows. She followed me into the room and I fed her. She drank it finish to my surprise. And I lifted her up and put her in her cot. Again she just obeyed and turned to her side to hug her pillow. She closed her eyes at once. I tiptoed out of the room, close the door behind me leaving a little gap. I was so relieved! I came back to check a few minutes later and her position didn't change at all. She was finally asleep. Hey, maybe my tears worked after all. Do I really need to cry everyday? LOL. Alright, therapy session over.

Opps! She did it again..

Damn it! I said it too soon. Yesterday was the worst night. My Eliza woke up crying in the middle of the night at 1.10AM. I was dead tired. You know the feeling like you've just fallen asleep a few minutes ago and suddenly you have to wake up. That very tiring feeling. Feels like the heart was so heavy. Anyway, I fed her milk but she only drank like only 1 and half fl. oz. Made my heart boiled to a degree of 200 degree Celcius me thinks. Then I just left her in her cot to fall asleep by herself. She seemed alright with it so I fell asleep the moment my head touches the pillow. And then she did it again! She cried again at 2 plus. And I made her finish her milk which she did surprisingly. Very fickle minded la this girl. Then I put her back in her cot. Guess what? At 3 plus again she cried but not loud this time. More like persuasive cry (the 'manja' type). I ignored her actually, too lazy to get up although I could sniff a nasty pong. I finally decided to get up and check on her and true enough, she poohed at an untimely hour. Eeee. Cleaned her up and the husband also helped me. Poor daddy couldn't sleep properly after being woken up so many times. Then she was so alert already, she refused to go back into her cot. She wants to sleep on our bed. The little tike! As usual when I put her between us she always likes to kick me. I don't know why? I couldn't sleep and end up scolding and scolding her. I even switched places with the husband. But even with the switching of places, she still kicked me! What is wrong with her ah? I'm really confused and on the way of becoming a lunatic. I don't know how I finally fell asleep maybe because I was so tired. But then again, even on our bed this time she cried again at 4 plus. Every hour can you imagine? Her daddy was begging for her to give us a break. I really really don't know what's the reason this time. She was doing a lot of actions like tossing and turning, sitting up and then she curled up. It's like she doesn't know what to do. Guess what I have to end up doing? I carried her in my arms and pat her to sleep. She stopped crying but started to cry again when I was about to put her back either in her cot or place her on our bed. Smart ass I tell you! I thought she was sleeping? I couldn't stand in the end for it seemed like eternity. I forced her to lie on our bed and hug her tightly, patting every once in a while. I had to place my hand on her chest you know? Once I lift it up she wanted to cry again. Grrr.. I think I didn't sleep long enough for my alarm clock rang at 5.30AM. I was too tired to get up so I slept in and only woke at about 6.00AM to cook Eliza's porridge. The husband told me that she cried while I was cooking her porridge again. You know what was the reason? She was angry because I covered her with her blanket before I left the room and she hates to be covered. So her daddy had to pull away the covers and she continued sleeping. What a queen! Queen Elizabeth.

So sleepy today but had work to do. I thought I could steal some 40 winks in office today. But didn't manage to. I think I look like a zombie today and probably going to fall asleep while driving on my way home again.