Toddler Bipolar Disorder

If you don't have a sense of humor, please don't read this blog entry. It's mom satire, people.

I think my daughter has toddler bipolar disorder. This is a recent development. She can be perfectly happy one second, and then, poof. Temporary insanity strikes. The most recent example of this behavior happened today. We actually had a lovely day. No tantrums, a fun Little Gym class, and even a three hour nap. The madness struck unexpectedly after bath time. We'd had a perfectly happy dinner, a fun bath, and then it came time to put on her diaper and pj's. It took twenty minutes, and the two of us, to get her diaper on and then her pajamas. I have never seen more contorting, wiggling and screaming in my life. It was kind of reminiscent of The Exorcist, minus the vomit and 360 degree head rotations. She threw such a fit, that she literally fell asleep in my arms as soon as we sat down in the rocking chair. Our last episode with TBP was all day Saturday, culminating with dinner at El Fenix. Sophie was happily coloring one minute, sorting the sweetener packets the next, and then she discovered if she ripped the packets open, sugar would go everywhere. So when we took the packets away, a fit ensued. I don't think I even ate my dinner. Steven, of course, was able to finish all of his. But I digress.....

I think it's safe to say we've hit the Terrible Twos at 17 months. My friend Danielle told me other moms have told her they calm down at age 5. My response was that they go off to Kindergarten at age 5, so of course it must get easier!!!! Now I understand why moms of older children would look at me with pity when I would ask them when Sophie was a little baby if motherhood got easier. NO. It does NOT get easier. But it does get more fun. See, even though there are moments when I completely run out of patience and have to walk away, Sophie is wonderful. She is sweet, affectionate, loving, and fun. Her newest thing is when I tell her that I love her as I'm rocking her before bed, she reaches up and hugs me tight. It's like she understands what I'm saying, and the feelings behind the words, so even though she can't verbalize that she loves me too, her hug is a way of telling me. It melts my heart every time. We generally have a pretty good time. Taking her to the park has become a blast, because she can climb on everything and go down the slides by herself. She is giggly and takes pure joy in everything.

I've found humor helps everything. I try really hard to laugh when she is hit with temporary TBP. Of course, I'm not always successful, but usually I laugh. I'm grateful for my friends, especially Adriane, Abby, Jenny, and Danielle. I can be myself around them, and they always make me feel like I'm not alone in this journey called motherhood. Because motherhood is a WILD ride. But it's also the best ride ever, one I never want to get off!