On Thin Ice

Eleanor has been in mega-drama mode lately. It is wearing my patience thin. I think it might be related to potty training, but maybe it’s just a phase. Whatever it is, I am so ready for it to end. I couldn’t even leave the house on Monday because I was so busy dealing with tantrums and drama. I had all kinds of chores around the house that needed to be done, but I realized I needed to make grocery shopping my main priority for the day. Instead, I dealt with Eleanor all afternoon, trying to get her pleasant so I could make it through a trip to the store without having her lose it in public. She never came around. I ran a quick errand when Grant came home just to get away from her, and we had to scrounge for dinner. It was a complete waste of a day!

Last weekend was more of the same. I felt like a “desperate housewife,” meeting Grant at the door to hand off the kids so I could get away and try to find my sanity. This week has been awful. Phaedra is clingy and moody because she is teething, and I can’t even focus on her because of all of Eleanor's issues. I’m losing patience, I’m losing sympathy, and I’m exhausted.

Tuesday, I had to try to go to the store again. Eleanor barely touched her lunch, and then she wanted peanuts. I told her she could have some if she ate more of her sandwich. She bawled and threw a fit all over the house. She wouldn’t let me put her sandwich away, because she said she was going to eat it (knowing it was her only way to be able to have peanuts). But when I told her to eat it, she said she didn’t like it. I finally told her she had lost her chance. It was time to go to the store, and she lost her chance to have peanuts. I had to put her in a time-out just to get her to snap out of it and stop bawling all over the house. After that, I just started getting things ready to go to the store. Phaedra was fussing at me, and Eleanor was still whimpering. When Eleanor saw me put ice in my water bottle, she asked for a piece. I gave her one. She shared with Phaedra until I got Phaedra her own ice in her solid food feeder. Then, they sat happily on the kitchen floor, both eating their ice. If I had known that was all it would take, I would have gotten out the ice even sooner!

Peekaboo!
Helping out.

Have I mentioned they love to match? I put them in matching clothes once, and Eleanor has requested to be matching many times since then. When I get her a shirt, she asks me if Phaedra is going to wear one just like hers. I think it's fun, so I do it while I can. I'm sure there will come a day when she won't want to match her little sister.

Today (and some of yesterday), we've had potty drama. Without too many details, Eleanor has needed to go, but she wouldn't let herself. Today has been rather unpleasant. We finally had a victory a little while ago, so I'm letting her relax and watch a show while I type this. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.