Emily Grace: Ferrel Child

I love two year olds. Ummmm... Until I have one in the house. At that point, the cuteness fades. 

Emily's two year old behavior streak started just a few weeks ago. You can find me in the corner, rocking. 

It's no secret that Emily was my high needs baby.  She required more thought, more attention, more care, more troubleshooting and much more intentional parenting.  She came out of the womb rattled and her first year was consumed with her care and high maintainance lifestyle. With a 5, 3, and 2 year old in the house as well, it was quite a year. It was worth it, and she was happy and bubbly and a delight mixed with the hard, but it was still such a welcome change over the last few months when she eased up. Annie was born and Emily naturally took more of a backseat. Granted, not all together, but there was a shift. She still was up at night and needy during the day, but it eased in intensity. 

I thought maybe she was just becoming more comfortable in herself and thriving. Well... 

That was the calm before the storm. I should have known. Several weeks ago, Emily started behavior which you would assume is correlated with her having been raised in a savage ferrel type environment. She hits. She will push. She spits. She strips. Listening?! Psh! 

::bangs head against the nearest wall::

So this is Emily in her "two" role. She still has her delightful side. She's confidently independent and knows what she wants. She is polite and is insanely nurturing and is just about the best big sister I could ever ask for for Annie. But... But but but... The hitting and stripping... 

I should have let the wolves raise her. They may have been more successful....

So if you see Emily out and she exhibits any wild type behaviors, please give me grace. I'm trying. I'm really really trying and after raising three other children through the toddler and preschool ages I feel like I know what I am doing, yet each new two year old will inevitably show me that there is still more to learn and each child is different. Until I figure Emily out or she passes this stage, you will see her in the wild, Emily Grace, ferrel child.