Bad Mommy!

It's so hard to be a good mommy, especially to a 2 year old. A very stubborn, have-to-have-it-my-way 2 year old. But I'm trying.

This morning, Noah was eating a banana for breakfast and Mommy was eating waffles. Noah decided half way through that he had to have my waffles and didn't want his banana anymore. I said "No, you have to finish your banana first, then I'll give you some waffles". Cue temper tantrum. It was the screaming, banging your head on the floor kind. He then got up, temper seemed to be under control, tears had stopped and said "Mommy, waffles" and I said "No, you have to eat your banana first" and round 2 began. This time he resorted to Daddy and asked him for waffles and he said the same thing. We asked him several times if he wanted his banana and his response everytime was "NO, I don't want it".

This was now more about being consistent and following through even after the tantrums, then about giving him waffles. So finally after much internal debate, he decided it was worth it and ate his banana. Then very nicely asked for waffles. At that point, I had finished, so I popped him in some of his own and we watched the toaster do its work. At this point, he became this giggly, laughing, cute 2 year old that I love. It's amazing how fast their moods change.

In the end, he got his waffle and everyone was happy, including Mommy who was so glad I stood my ground. I hate seeing my little baby cry and be all upset especially when I hold the key to making him happy but I know that if I give in this time, next time, he'll cry even harder the next time to get what he wants. Maybe this makes me a bad mommy but it works for Noah as we've seen it work in other ways in his life. Example - Noah ate almost all his green beans at dinner the other night even though I know it was tough work for him to do (I don't blame him, I'm not a fan either).