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Nov
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We had kind of a hard weekend, thanks to Dylan being extra cranky as a result of this never-ending Viral Crud the boys just keep passing back and forth to each other over and over and over and at this point I have forgotten 1) what it’s like to get a good night’s sleep, and 2) what my children’s noses look like when there isn’t a torrent of slime erupting from both nostrils.
We also had houseguests, and it is one of my few personal blogging rules never to say anything about JB’s parents that I might someday regret but I cannot keep this to myself: at one point JB’s mom suggested with all seriousness that Dylan, who is not yet 2 years old, might benefit from counseling to deal with his anger issues.
I will refrain from making any further comment on that except to say: I think it was highly unfair to have been put in a position of defending the exact same behavior that was driving me out of my skull all weekend long. When your kid’s being an asshole, what you want is someone to say “God, 20-month-old children, especially when sick, are total assholes, aren’t they? Hang in there, this won’t last.” Not, you know, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED COUNSELING.
(Although I have to say I am entertained by the idea of toddler cognitive therapy. “Dylan, your mother refused to allow you to bang your plastic cow on the television screen. Can you tell me how that makes you feel? . . . I see. Can we re-conceptualize this anger trigger, perhaps by using relaxation imagery or engaging in some guided discovery —ah, I notice you’re expressing yourself by gnawing my sofa.”)
Anyway, we managed to have a decent Halloween night, at least for Riley. He was ridiculously excited about dressing up and knocking on doors, and he didn’t even mind when I pilfered all the good chocolate from his haul later that night.
As usual, we had about four trick-or-treaters stop by our house, despite what I thought was a very welcoming pumpkin ensemble.
Riley was a pirate, with a “Batman pirate cape”.
Dylan was a dragon or Godzilla or a dinosaur or something, although you’ll have to accept this weeks-old photo as proof since he was too pink-nosed and unhappy on Saturday to be photographed.
How was your Halloween? If you have kids, what did they dress as?
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98 Responses to “Sugar hangover”
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heh….sounds only a smidge-better than our Halloween.
We spent the hours between 4:30-7:30
- cleaning puke
- trying to rinse off a HOWLING 20-month old in the bathtub
- snuggling on the couch while watching Shaun the Sheep
and a Happy Halloween to all!
The little one was Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo (among other things), and although most people thought he was a Lego man, it was totally worth it to have a random twelve people actually get it. (”Whip it!”) I was a rodeo clown and Simon was a smarmy guy (typecast!).
Why do you always have to look so good, woman? ;-)
All two year olds are mini-tyrants/assholes….no therapy needed…they grow out of it.
P.S. Love the cannibal pumpkin. Such a cute idea.
I’m glad Riley was totally excited, and at least Dylan is still a bit young to feel bummed about being sick.
Theo was a train conductor and hot DAMN was he cute. He didn’t get why we’d stand at people’s doors and wait for them to answer, and he can’t say Trick Or Treat yet. But oh, once he figured out that every house we went to gave him candy from a bowl he was ALL OVER IT. As soon as they’d open the door he’d try and push his way in while saying “MORE? MORE? MORE?” ever hopeful.
And dude, my mom? Had 156 kids come to her house. I think they were shipped in or something because my GOD.
Fuller was Thor, in the costume made by his Father. Tebow was a puppy dog on Friday night and a Tiger on Saturday. It was a pretty good Halloween, if not a little chilly. Fuller woke up Sunday with his own slimy trail of snot and coughing like he needed to quit smoking. Fun!
Hang in there. Toddlers with colds can be total assholes, but I hear it gets better when you can send them to school. What adorable kids! My own parents and in-laws have forgotten what little jerks toddlers can be too. Once a month, I send them the baby center update as my own personal f-you, my baby is right on track.
Grace (17 months) was a University of Michigan cheerleader. The best costume we saw was a New York (we do not live in NY) hot dog vendor, complete with ridiculously life-like wooden hot dogs.
Our Halloween was great! Vincent was Mickey Mouse. He was so cute!! I would also like to say that I find the MIL’s comment very amusing. I wonder what she would say about my 20 month old who dropped everything he was doing yesterday to clinch his little fists and SCREAM for no apparent reason. Oh, rest assured, he was angry with me, I jut don’t know why. She might have suggested a straight jacket for him. I much prefer the “hang in there” “this too shall pass” approach.
Moved into the new house this weekend. Nothing says “Scary!” like dropping $350 at Home Depot for kitchen cabinet knobs an dpulls, and bathroom towel bars and toilet paper holders.
We had about 10 trick-or-treaters, and I’m wishing I wasn’t so stingy with the candy- we have TON left over. THe best costume I saw was actually this little girl dressed as a peacock– with feathers! There was a photo in the newspaper: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/10/31/news/000trickortreat.txt
I’m sorry D is being such an asshole! It won’t last, though it will return again and again – especially when he is a teenager. Wait, this comment was supposed to be comforting…?
My mil suggested when my youngest was almost 3 that he needed counseling for his behavior….which basically resembles Dylans to a t…….I don’t and didn’t have a blog, so I told dh he could basically tell his mother to suck it.(I’m nice like that…)Btw said 3 year old is now 17 and very well adjusted,honor student. well as well adjusted as a 17 year old male can be…. 20 month years old can be little assholes…..hang in there this won’t last…..
My little girl was Cleopatra –http://www.flickr.com/photos/nolitamorgan/4053840455/in/set-72157622685601102/ Sorry to hear that Dylan was still sick (or sick again?). I remember when Emi was that age, she seemed to always have a snotty nose. I am so glad for her strengthened immune system and that they learn to blow their own noses…(hopefully not like I saw Brett Favre do it on the field last night…disgrosting)
We were in San Francisco and so avoided having to deal with Trick-or Treaters at all. This is good as it means no leftover candy for me to cram into my face.
My boys were frogs. Well….one of them was. Dax dressed as a red-eyed tree frog and told everyone who looked at him that he was POISONOUS!!! and Devin shunned his little spotted frog costume.
Loved seeing everyone wandering around the city in costumes.
(For the record, almost 2-year-old boys CAN be complete balloon knots and, as we both know, it really will pass. Has not stopped me from cracking myself up with toddler therapy fantasies since I first read that MILism on Twitter.)
My boys were Batman and a Star Wars Clone Trooper. Gone are the days of the cute dinosaur and Tigger costumes. But they were still cute. Batman anyway.
My son was Robin – trying to go solo without Batman – but we didn’t trick or treat. Two is a tough age for that b/c he doesn’t really grasp the concept yet and really, no one needs all that candy.
I wouldn’t take the counseling suggestion to heart. I’ve had what I thought was behavioral trouble with my daughter, and I later found out, guess what…she’s a toddler. Some just do it to a higher degree than others.
My son was Elmo, my daughter was a Dalmatian, and I was Hermione…cloak, hat, wand, & scarf. I actually had a rather ego damaging experience. I’m thinking I look all young and cute, and then one of my neighbors saw me and said “Oh look, it’s Professor McGonagall!” I was so embarrassed, instead of correcting her; I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Our town has this downtown trick-or-treating thing where the store owners give out candy and there are rides and carnival food and what-not. Our son is only 6 months old but we dressed him up as an Ewok and used him to pilfer candy for ourselves. Heehee!!
Ahem:
God, 20-month-old children, especially when sick, are total assholes, aren’t they? Hang in there, this won’t last.
Really. Truly. Then they turn into, say, 7-going-on-8 total assholes. Sometimes. ;-)
My dotter was a PINK! Rock Star. Very PINK!
My almost-5-year-old daughter was Dorothy (with the BEST glittery ruby slippers from Target EVER) and my son – 18 months – was the Cowardly Lion. At first I thought it would be a screamfest because he didn’t like his costume but he turned out to be fine with it. Trick-or-treating got rained out due to hurricane force winds in Vermont. Of course, once we stopped, so did the rain & winds… but we were drenched so we said forget it.
Um, counseling, sure. Cute.
20 month old children are assholes, sometimes, (but they can also be damn cute, which I am convinced is a survival mechanism). Hang in there. Pre-teens can also be assholes and they are not so cute, so there’s that to look forward to :) I have girls, so probably a whole different ball game.
Speaking of, they were witches this year and we had a great Halloween. That probably means the funk will descend upon us just in time for Christmas.
Our 3 month old was a monkey, and I may make him wear that outfit all the time so I can pretend he’s my little stuffed animal playmate.
Counseling?!!?
I love the grin on his face in the pirate-sitting-on-stoop picture. Very content with his booty, it seems. My kid was a cheeseburger, but I don’t have cute kid pics up like you do, so you’ll have to take my word for it.
Love your commentary on what a therapy session for a toddler would be like! Sadly, I can picture someone actually DOING this…
We hid from the Trick-or-Treaters again this year – our experience 2 years ago totally ruined it for us. Countless 14-year-olds in football jerseys who took FISTFULS of candy and didn’t leave any for the dozen little kids who actually dressed up. Maybe when we move out of Toledo we’ll try it again.
Also, your outfit is CUTE!
My mom got 7 trick or treaters this year, that’s 6 more than she got last year. I remember when I was a kid, there were a hundred kids in our neighborhood, easy! I don’t know how many we would have gotten because my husband and I both took our kids out around the neighborhood.
My daughter [4.5yrs] was Snow White, and talk about acting the part – she immediately became a hair flouncing princess. Until the candy started coming out, then it was run, run, run to the next house candy come on let’s GO already!
My son [23 mo] was a fireman, and at first he wasn’t into the whole going up to the door thing, and he clung to Daddy like velcro. But then…I saw the light bulb come on! As soon as he figured out they were putting candy! in my basket! he was running to the doors like an old pro. In fact, my daughter tuckered out long before he did – LOL!
Let’s see, my older boy was Bumble Bee and my younger boy was Buzz Lightyear for a party we attended with some friends in the afternoon. Then they changed things up a bit and dressed as Mario and Luigi for a late afternoon neighborhood party. Come evening time the Mario costume stuck for my older boy however the younger one wanted to be Batman. Geesh, good thing for old costumes! I see my younger son has my wardrobe issues with the multiple changes….
Anyways, I’m sorry Dylan has been such a pest, it’s rough indeed when kids are sick at that age. Riley looked happy and content in all of the photographic evidence and well, I love your pumpkins!
Hallowe’en is pretty tame here in France, but we live next door to a language school (English teaching, that is) and every year they put on a pretty good party. This year, Carla (who’s nearly 8) went as a cat and Lydie (5 and a half) as a pumpkin, and they both looked pretty good. Good enough to win third prize each in their age groups for the costume competition!
No trick-or-treating here, either of course, so it was just a sort of distribution of sweets, but hey, kids don’t care how they get sweets, as long as they get sweets!
We had a good time, but really wish we had a more Hallowe’en-friendly neighbourhood so we could have “Boo-ed” people…
Oh, and both girls were HIDEOUS toddlers (Lydie in particular), but really, it does get better!
Mothers-in-law: who needs ‘em.
Mine once said to me that my husband was completely potty trained before he was one, and what was taking me so long with my boy? Methinks she is not remembering quite accurately.
Someone recently suggested to me that I take him to an ear, nose, and throat doctor because he is so loud, perhaps he needs his hearing checked. I’m all, yeah he’s a BOY. They lean toward LOUD. At least at my house. If you want to blog about a normal boy conversational tone consists of bellowing DIRECTLY IN YOUR EAR, feel free. It would be nice to know I am not alone….
My 17-mo-old was a lady pirate! (See my link for a couple sad pics.) We skipped the t-r-t-ing this year b/c she seems too young, but I’m sure we’ll be out there next year.
We had MORE THAN 170 kids come to our house this year. I think it was at least 50 more than last year. My candy bill exceeded $80 this year (we give out full-size bars).
My sister-in-law, a child therapist, once suggested that my 4 year old get counseling because of his “problems with women,” evidenced by the fact that he said “girls are yucky.” He’s 12 now, and doesn’t think they’re yucky at all. And he was Jackie Moon from Semi-Pro for H’ween. The 9 y/o was “fat Elvis” – sumo suit, Elvis wig and glasses.
I ate too much dinner (son cooked a roast, after doing my laundry for me while I was getting a haircut, eyebrow wax, pedicure, manicure, and shopping successfully for some new sweaters for work) and decided about 5:00 to lie down just for a minute until this food digests. Woke at 11:00, having totally slept through Halloween. Bah.
Speaking of blogging boundaries: I was asked recently to start a blog (associated with a parenting magazine) on being a new mama. I have no idea where “intersting blogging about the stories of my life” end and “Stuff that is None of Anyone’s Business” begins. Besides the obvious (no bashing your boss, etc.) You know, sometimes just mentioning you drank a single coffee while pregnant can set off a small comments-section-riot.
If you have any tips, and are inclined to help a total stranger out, I’d love it if you emailed or blogged about the subject sometime. If not, no sweat–I see you’ve got your hands full over there.
Baby boy was a chef (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinfoell/sets/72157622584786835/). We did the mall thing too with cousins. But the Mall of America is so stupidly big and only 10% of the stores participated that it was kind of a waste for the kids. They were tired before they even got a handful of candy.
I love your pumpkins, they came out great! I haven’t carved a pumpkin since I was pregnant, 8 years ago.
Eric was Harry Potter for Halloween, it was pretty funny.
You look so great in that first photo! Best of luck with the viral crud.
We had a spooky Spiderman/Venom Spiderman (look TWO costumes for the price of ONE! Am cheap like that.) (btw, I have no idea what a venom spiderman is…) and a cute wee little ladybug.
Halloween was good. Cold but good. We had chili and cornbread before then hit the ‘hood for a solid hour. Spidey could have gone all night. Momma and the ladybug were COLD. SO we went home to hand out treats and eat some sugar. Fun times!
Some people just forget what its like to have small children. My mother-in-law, who raised two kids of her own, now has no concept of what its like to live with a baby. My biggest struggle is convincing her that no, we cannot stay out past bedtime because it will make my life a living hell the next day. She probably thinks I need counseling!
Hey, my own mother suggested, when my son was a 2 and then 3 year old asshole, that the problem was my parenting so there’s that.
One of my girls went as a flying pig. It was only at the end of the evening that someone asked “So, is she swine flu?” Doink *forehead slap* why didn’t we think of that?!
Jr was a black ninja (complete with katana) and The Captain was Wolverine (comic book version). I dressed up as a pirate complete with my “piece of eight” a la Elizabeth Swann. My kids hate it when I raid their candy: “I’m just checking out this Reese’s cup, it looks suspicious.” “No you’re not, you’re gonna EAT it!”
My husband spent an inordinate amount of time building our 22-month-old’s Wall-E costume. But the end result was well worth it. Cardboard box with appropriate head and arm holes, covered with adhesive vinyl which had accurate designs of Wall-E’s body and wheels, a foam headpiece also covered with printed vinyl. He should go into costume design! Wish I could attach a picture!
Side Note: video Dylan’s tirades; then show them to him when he’s older. It may not teach him anything but it’ll be good for a laugh and maybe a “Whew! I’m glad that’s over!”
My own mother, when faced with our 17 month-old’s “outbursts” has recently said with palpable disgust, “That kid is really high maintenance!” As if the world is just filled to the brim with toddlers of the low maintenance variety and my kid is the exception. Oh and Riley was a fancy, high maintenance pirate.
We had a blast! My boys and I went to a local outing on Friday, Boo at the Zoo, which was crowded, but fun. Den made it home early Saturday morning, so he got to take them out trick-or-treating while I manned the door. We had a trickle of visitors, a little disappointing since I always overdo the decorating…(did I mention I LOVE HALLOWEEN?!) my 7yo went as a mad scientist which was great. We spiked up his hair and painted it white, used one of our dentists old lab coats, stained it up, dripped wax on it, put some burn spots on it, rubber gloves, goofy goggles and sewed a lab rat (oh yeah, cat toy) on his shoulder. It turned out really great. My 5yo was originally Shaggy with a scooby doo stuffed animal, but traded that in after pre-school for the Optimus Prime outfit, of which he shedded most of it on Friday and I had to carry all the damn pieces around the zoo. Then they get to pick some of their candy to keep and the rest goes out for the pumpkin fairy! (you know….the one that uses candy as fuel for her flying car because it’s not good fuel for us. She’s so happy that they give it to her that she usually brings a book, movie or small toy in return) All the fun….limited cavities!
By the way…that picture of Dylan…looks slightly like a giant python eating a toddler!
And by the way….when you find the anger management for kids can you forward the info?! 5yo still on the edge!!
Jess was Dorothy from Wizard of Oz and I (of course) was the bad witch. And, BTW, don’t all 2 year olds have anger issues?
I would be furious with the m.i.l.
My little man was a giraffe and we have not clued him on the exsistence of candy, so I am eating all of it. Hello sugar coma.
Counseling?! Ha. I have a 20 month old. Maybe we can get a package deal?! :)
love the super cute red shoes, BTW.
My little man was a lion for as long as I could keep him interested in knocking on strangers’ doors in the dark.
Too. Cute! What would possess someone to suggest a 2 year old needs counseling? Good lord.
oh my heck…my 7yo boy will charge the neighbor boy who outweighs him by 30lbs if he gets ticked off at him. Maybe anger management could be a group session or something?
The 13yr old was out terrorizing the girls with a super soaker while the 7 yr old was Snake Eye from GI Joe. We live in TX so no one was cold. AND i gave away two giant costco sized bags of candy in about 2 hours, i’m either too generous or we had a buncho kiddos.
The boys look adorable in their costumes!
My son – at almost 13 – was some vague masked dude for about 60 seconds, and was a hippie when he had to dress with the marching band for the parade (I should be embarrassed to admit that he wore my clothes for that costume. Clothes I actually WEAR).
My just turned 6 yo daughter wanted to be a bride and it took moving about 16 mountains to find a bride costume (except for skanky bride, which inexplicably was available for the kindergarten set). She wore it for trick or treat and for her school party, but as we were leaving for a family Halloween party, she announced that she didn’t want to be a bride – she wanted to be UNDEAD.
We had:
clown
pumpkin
flower fairy
bunny
firefighter
3YO: Dragon. (But not a REAL dragon, so don’t be scared, sayeth he.)
Baby: strawberry.
But, Linda, I am seriously coveting your shoes. I’ve been looking for red patent leather shoes for what feels like eternity.
Oooh, I like the pumpkin with the key nose. Mine always turn out looking like a Dylan-sized person made them, even when I use one of those cheat kits.
Happy Halloween!
My 15 yr old daughter was a killer raggedy ann-complete with blood spray over the front of the costume. I miss the Disney princess days!
Thought you and your readers might be interested in this (from lifehacker)
Halloween Candy Buy Back
http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/search-results.html
“counseling to deal with his anger issues” … that is hilarious. I know it isn’t for you, since you are living it, but for those of us out here…bwah ha ha. Anyway, hang in there, he doesn’t need counseling, he just needs to get well and older! :)
I got the same song and dance from my son’s teacher about taking my 5yr old for therapy to manage his anger. Feels good to know that judging from the posts here that I am not the only one who got this song and dance.
forgot to add what our Halloween night was like….our teenagers out doing their thing….dh and I handed out candy and participated in neighborhood”adult” boo experience…..very fun….
ugh….let me explain….adult’Boo” experience sounds a bit dirty…..which it was not….just involved leaving goody bags for the adults….
Did you throw something at her head when she said that?? Other than menacing looks, that is? Holy crap. What is it with MILs?? When my son was 2 weeks old we had our first get-together at our house for a football game, and my poor son got passed around like a plate of nachos…everyone had to hold him. When I mentioned later to my MIL that he was just inconsolable later on from too much stimulation, she said “Are you sure it wasn’t YOU who was over-reacting? Maybe he was just picking up on YOUR stress?” Gack.
Anyway, my hoodlums were an army commando (age 7) and my 4 yo daughter wore a little poodle skirt and top.
We ended up with zero trick or treaters (plus side: more candy for us!) and our girls (2 1/4 year old twins) refused to put on the princess skirts I made them. Oh well. We only went to one neighbor’s house anyway, and she wasn’t a stickler for protocol.
Hope the boogers dry up soon for you.
Homegrown Superman!
We’re all blond so I had to improvise on the “hair.” :)
Where are all the trick-or-treaters anyway? We had maybe 7?
Has anyone ever told you that you look like Kelly Pickler???
Not bad for sleep deprived!!
Love the scarf… Is that the one that dipped in the toilet? My 2 year old wore an angel costume I made..after 2 houses he wanted to go home.. So I carried him a couple blocks in hopes of more peanut butter cups. What color is the sky on your MIL’s planet?
Um, YOU look fabulous. Love, love, love the shoes, and I may have to run out tomorrow just to look.
My 3 kids went out in Star Wars themed gear. The oldest (5) was a stormtrooper, my middle (2 1/2) was Princess Leia, and the baby (10 months) was Yoda. So much fun, we might do a theme every year.
Poor Dylan….and poor you. I’m sure you’re ready for “normal” to take back over. The boys look adorable and you are too stinkin’ cute!
My oldest daughter, 11, was a bumblebee. The only freaking costume I could find that wasn’t completely slutted out. Costumes these days – even for her age – are so short, tight, low cut, and see-through that they look like they should be posing in the October edition of Penthouse! My 5-year-old was an adorable ladybug, and my 15-month-old son had a very similar costume to Dylan’s – a dragon – but his had shiny scales on it. Too cute. And those jack-o-lanterns kick ass!
Next Halloween will be better! You’ll always remember the Halloween that sucked ass. I remember mine….it rained – I mean STORMED – until about 10:00. We went trick-or-treating anyway and pissed all kinds of people off. But c’mon – if they were parents, they’d totally get that you don’t hype up Halloween for weeks, then totally let your kids down because of a little all-night thunderstorm!!
I don’t like Halloween and my kids didn’t dress up this year. They didn’t care; they got candy anyway (untainted, from mom & dad). We went out to dinner and to the bookstore and they got books. They were pretty excited about it.
I love your scarf!
Of course your munchkins are adorable, but YOUR SHOES kick ass woman!
My kids were tigers (see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33138142@N00/4063243330/). It was a pretty good halloween, because we skipped the nighttime neighborhood trick or treating and just went to our city’s downtown shop-to-shop event. Earlier, and much less walking for the little ‘uns.
We actually had two costumes for our son. The first was Cardboard Tube Samurai, which he wore to a wedding at noon on Saturday. I would like to say that like the commenter upthread with the Devo costume, that it was worth it for the small number of people who did recognize it. Sadly, no one recognized it. Philistines. ;-) The one he actually went trick-or-treating in was an astronaut.
As for the baby, she was Batgirl. And my wife and I went as members of the Dharma Initiative.
My son was a pirate because I got his costume for a dollar. We had a bear hat from Target on hand if that didn’t work out but he can’t take his clothes off yet while he can get the hat off, so we didn’t need two outfits. He’s only a year so we didn’t go around to houses in the neighborhood but we did trick or treat during the daytime at businesses in our town. But waiting in line with a baby is awful so mostly we just walked around and looked at things. I was exhausted, but I don’t really know why.
I don’t have kids and didn’t get dressed up myself (I actually kind of got lost, tripped and fell down in a Corn Maze – the kiddy side, the one without the chainsaws and monsters and such – which is all together too embarrassing to discuss).
We did hand out candy for a little bit, though (I need more practice in not giving it out by the fist full), and there was one boy, looked to be about 5 or so, that was dressed as Spiderman. As I handed him candy, he announced to me, “I’M A BUMBLEBEE!”
I think to prove a point, you should enlist MIL in finding a therapist that would work with Dylan. She could explain in great detail his fits of anger, stubborn-ness, screaming, dog-hair-eating episodes only to find out (or figure out from the hysterical laughter from the therapist’s end of the phone) that 2 year-olds can in fact, just be little assholes – no therapy needed, thankyouverymuch :)
I love that so many people still dress like the HArry Potter characters. My 8 y.o. dressed as Hermione Granger (from Harry Potter :) ) and my 5 y.o. was Luigi from Super Mario Brothers.
Love your red shoes!!
Please know that you are not alone with Dylan’s tantrums. My 19 month old sounds very similiar. Sure, some people’s kids don’t have tantrums at all- but those kids probably grow up to be losers. :)
My 2 year old was a spider. We had a blast and the weather was perfect. As for you little one going to counseling…you can tell your mother in law that I am a child and family therapist, and I find the idea off sending such a little tot to counseling for having tantrums absolutely ridiculous….there, now you have someone’s professional opionion! LOL! :) If it makes you feel any better, my MIL has borderline personality disorder…so get togethers with her are a BLAST! (sarcasm noted eh?)
Our Halloween was awesome. We entered our community’s annual costume contest and won for dressing up as Sesame Street. My boys were Cookie Monster and Elmo (I was Bert, my husband was Oscar, and our friends covered Ernie, Abby, Big Bird, the Count and Grover). Gabe was so excited about trick or treating, less so about the candy.
Toddler tantrums are totally normal, and worse when they’re sick. If every toddler who threw tantrums needed counseling, counselors would have no time to see anybody else. Nick can be a terror when he’s in a mood. Today he ended up covered in stamps because it was the only thing that shut him up long enough for me to get ready for work.
Maybe Dylan and my daughter could go to therapy together, cut the bills in half. On the other hand, at least your MIL isn’t therapy-averse should the need ever arise in the future, knockonwood that it won’t.
My son (5) was Luigi of Super Mario fame with his cousin, who went as Mario. My daughter (22 months) was a penguin a la Happy Feet. The stuffed belly buffered any falls, and created a hilarious Ralphie’s-little-brother-in-a-snowsuit-from-A-Christmas-story effect in that she rolled around on the ground attempting to get up while the adults around her laughed until we had tears streaming. Yeah, we’re Hell’s Minions.
Yeah, one Christmas my MIL asked me if my daughter alway acted like this. Umm…let’s see, it’s 9:30pm, only a hour and a half past her bed time, and she’s 17 months old. Did you really have children?
But on a happy note, yes, we had a great weekend. We went and stayed at a hotel with a indoor waterpark. They had a pie eating contest and a arcade too! We had a clown and a monkey. The twelve year old is just way to cool to dress up I guess. We only lost the 2 year old once and it was on my husbands watch:)
I really hope your little guys start feeling better soon. Sick kids suck!
Oof! I had to laugh at your description of the toddler therapy, but totally sympathize!
Our Halloween was great… we’re in a new neighborhood this year and wow, they totally decorate and know how to celebrate Halloween! I too pilfered the good candy once Cooper was asleep. He came down with a cold the night after Halloween, so I haven’t had much sleep since, but at least it held off until the trick or treating was done :) We dressed as matching Zombies and my hubby was Michael Myers. Pics are posted on my blog :)
Love the kids costumes! I hope you get some sleep this week!!
My kiddies were pirates. My 3 year old son wanted to be a pirate and of course INSISTED his little sister be a pirate too. She is 20 months and was also sick and GRUMPY and WHINEY. So yes, this is how they are at this age. And I thought MY mother AND MIL were sometimes crazy :)
Halloween was awesome this year! Last year my son Cash was only 4 months old so despite his adorableness as a Folsom Prison convict, he could have given two shits what was going on. This year he ran around in awe of the animatronic witch on display at my office, pointing and “Uh! Uh!”-ing at the pumpkins and lights and flying bats. Oh, and he was dressed in a green pepper costume with an Army name badge that said Sergeant Pepper. :)
I simply must know what brand your shoes are! They’re wonderful!
I love your site, it’s always good to read parenting from someone who’s human like the rest of us.
Kyle had the worst stomach virus ever combined with teething which made him in TOTAL NEED OF SOME DAMN THERAPY MY GOD, so he was a spider for all of 15 minutes.
Oh, also, our Halloween totally sucked ass because of the aforementioned virus.
I am totally digging the pumpkin eating a pumpkin. Will need to remember that for next year!
My four-year-old boy was Underdog. I thought we were doomed to illness as well when he actually asked to stop trick or treating because his tummy hurt. But then, he was fine.
Hope you are all well soon!
Cute pics! Your MIL sounds like my Mom and your entry has made me decide that, if I have kids, when she gets all “your child needs…” I’ll just say, “No, right now he’s just being an asshole.” :)
My MIL scolded me, when my daughter was almost 2, that she would never survive on her own, because I am so overprotective. WTH? Are 20-month old’s supposed to survive “on their own”? She’s a therapist.
We were Cinderella and a sleeping baby here. Couldn’t even muster the energy to put the baby in the hand-me-down costume for pictures. I suck.
Lumpyhead was Balloon Boy, Lula was Dora Being Abducted by an Alien (although she refused to wear the alien and was just Dora for most of the night), and Nathan Jr was King Kong.
Gnwe (18 months) was SuperGwen! Which was great, except people who didn’t know her assumed the “SG” logo my husband designed stood for “SuperGirl”. Hey, no offense to you, SuperGirl, but SuperGwen? Would KICK YOUR ASS.
Halloween was great – we had a clone trooper and Yoda (complete w/green snot of his own). They were pretty cute and had a great time.
I’m dying laughing over the MIL comment – was JB a perfectly adjusted 20 month old? Or has she just completely blocked it out – with counseling? I vividly remember that stage and fear entering it again (youngest just turned 1). 20-month olds can be assholes whether they are sick or not. But – I also remember that once the language started to catch up with the rage and ability to express it, things got a LOT better. Two was actually a lot of fun – here’s to hoping that the same happens for you and little D!
My 2 1/2 year-old daughter was a dinosaur. And I must admit, I loved that she had absolutely no interest in any princess or ballerina costumes or anything “girly” like that. Just a big green dinosaur. With wings. And claws. That’s my girl.
Also, LOVE the idea of sending your toddler to therapy. Can I send mine? She won’t poop on the potty, maybe there’s something Freudian going on there? Or, you know, maybe she’s just being two. Hard to say.
I’m going to go with….. it takes one to know one approach. Meaning…. that maybe MIL needs counceling… I know mine did. I probably had abou 30 kids…. some teenagers, who I only gave one piece of candy to each. They were at least polite. but I think toooooo old to be trickortreating. I didn’t have anybody to send out…..my granddaughter was dressed in a cute pumpkin outfit, but she is still in the hospital…. growing. So, maybe next year.
This too shall pass. Good Luck! And…. hide the candy…. from the MIL.
Ugh, what a horrible thing to say! When your child is sick it is exhausting for everyone and it makes your kid act like a really grumpy version of himself. And I think it can be really hard to keep that in perspective when you’re the one getting the full brunt of the child not feeling well and not sleeping well. So yes, you’d sort of hope the grandparents could see the situation for what it is and offer you some support!
I wonder if your mother in law suffers from the same sort of amnesia that makes women remember their pregnancies and labors as much easier than they probably were and their children as so much more angelic than they probably were! One and a half year olds can be tough and Dylan seems to be playing the sick child version of the role with gusto.
Our 3.5 year old daughter was an astronaut, and she (completely on her own) decided that her 5 month old sister should be an alien. It was adorable, really, although several houses that we stopped at automatically assumed she was a boy! Argh! She’s still a girl, even though she wasn’t wearing a tiara and fairy wings,
re: the MIL thing… unfortunately, it’s MY mother who is of the stereotypical mother-in-law variety, and while she might not suggest toddler counseling, she would certainly have offered some herbal supplements to “calm the tiger within” or have offered to attempt some wacka-doo naturopathic remedy. *sigh*.
Hope everyone at your house kicks the viral bug v.v. soon and that you can all get some decent sleep :)
I don’t know that the counseling thing is actually that insulting. I used to think the child pyschologist open hours at the daycare were ridiculous until I had friend after friend telling me how much it helped all different kind of issues, although things like anger issues related to new sibings or divorce/remarriage seem to be the most common. Apparently they never do more than two or three ’sessions’ with a small child but people have said that it seems like having an outsider sit down and explain things to teh child and set out some rules has worked when the parent, saying the exact same words, has been completely ignored.
When I first read your MIL’s recommendation, my first response was, OMFG my son needs counseling for his anger issues as well then, because I swear, Oliver is your son’s brother from a different mother!
I’m happily consoled by others’ advice that “this too shall pass” although clearly not quickly enough!
I have been followingthi sthread for a while, Keep it going