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By Meredith Ethington

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Chandler Childhood Humor In the Motherhood Parenting Uncategorized

20 Reasons My Two Year Old Had a Hard Day

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My two year old said, with a mischievous look in his eye, “Mommy. I have hard day.”

I turned to his older brother and said, “Did he just say what I think he did?” He shrugged. Five year old brothers tend to not care what two year old brothers are saying.

So, I asked, “Did you just say you’ve had a hard day!?” He smiled, his coy little smile and replied, “Yeah” as he continued to twirl in circles for some unknown reason that was making me slightly queasy just watching him.

I didn’t know whether to be horrified that he’s obviously heard this sentence one too many times, laugh at his cuteness in saying something so grown up, or be worried that I’m coddling him too much and therefore, he already thinks his life is rough. At the ripe old age of two years old.

Instead, I gave it a little thought, because having three kids makes me pensive when it’s not making me yell-y, and thought to myself, “Hmm. Maybe life was hard for this kid today.”

After all, I could think of several reasons that, in his mind, life was extra tough that day.

20 Reasons My Two Year Old Had a Hard Day

He had to get out of bed at 9 am after sleeping for a short 14 hours straight.

I wouldn’t let him eat potato chips for breakfast.

I dared to tell him his pacifier was just for bed time and took it away so he could eat a real breakfast which he changed his mind about ten times. Nothing must have sounded good to him since the potato chips were off limits.

I dressed him, so of course that always makes my day a little tougher.

He was forced to drink out of the yellow cup at lunch instead of the blue one.

I wouldn’t let him squirt his brother in the eye with a water bottle.

I wouldn’t let him jump on the picnic table in the backyard.

I wouldn’t let him wrap the cord to the blinds around his neck.

I wouldn’t let him play with a knife.

Basically, I prevented him from his various attempts at taking his own life.

I changed his diaper when he was stinky. Poor guy.

I made him wear shoes to go play outside when it was a whopping, scald-your-bare-feet-on-the-pavement, degrees outside.

I buckled him into his car seat.

I mistakenly put his blanket on him the wrong way at nap time.

I didn’t hold him for 25 minutes after his nap giving him time to wake up and be happy again. After all, he only napped for two hours after his short 14 hours of sleep the night before.

I made him eat pasta for dinner that had tiny flecks of something green in it, therefore making it so obviously inedible.

I told him hitting his brother in the head with whatever object was in his hand at the time was not OK. (Repeat 10 times)

I held his hand while going down some stairs.

I attempted to actually brush his teeth instead of letting him suck on the toothbrush for 10 minutes.

I told him to be quiet and go to sleep.

Hopefully, I will be a better mommy tomorrow. I’d hate to hear that he had a hard day again. Poor little guy.


9 Comments

« Coping with Loss
Conversations with a Two Year Old »

Comments

  1. Kelly L McKenzie says

    September 17, 2014 at 10:32 am

    Nothing like a two year old to bring you down to earth. Our classic 2year of line? The response to my lovingly maternal “who made you so cute?” “Daddy and Sherman.” Sherman being the gigantic dog next door. Think Turner and Hooch.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      September 17, 2014 at 10:32 am

      haha! that’s so cute. Kids are hilarious!

      Reply
  2. Carrie says

    September 29, 2014 at 8:25 am

    HAHAHAHA! I love the “love/sarcasm” tone you pull off through this whole piece.

    Yes, it’s rough being 2. And 4. Just ask my kids. My 2 year old pitched a fit this morning because he was hungry and food was not in front of him RIGHT NOW. Did I mention the fit was in front of the stove where I was cooking his food? Instant calm as soon as I said “it’s done!”

    Apparently, he thinks we live in “Back to the Future II” with instant rehydrated food.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      September 29, 2014 at 8:28 am

      Oh my gosh I know. My kids do that at dinner. Right as I pull six or top start cooking they start whining!

      Reply
    • Meredith says

      September 29, 2014 at 8:28 am

      Stuff out

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Conversations with a Two Year Old | Perfection Pending says:
    September 17, 2014 at 10:05 am

    […] post a little while ago that was featured on Scary Mommy. It was innocent enough, and all about my two year old declaring he had a hard day. Honestly I had no clue if people would find it funny, but in my wildest dreams I never thought […]

    Reply
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    February 24, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    […] If you liked this post, you’ll probably love: 20 Reasons my Two Year Old Had a Hard Day. […]

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Welcome! I’m Meredith.

Mom. Writer. Diet Coke connoisseur. Born and raised Texan. Lover of real talk and laughter with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

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Mom • Author • Mental Health Therapist In Training
Grab my new book, The Mother Load, available now. 👇👇

Meredith Ethington
If this ain’t the truth. @house_feminist If this ain’t the truth. @house_feminist
You get to a point as a mom where you want your ba You get to a point as a mom where you want your babies back. 
You look at old photos and it almost breaks your heart. 
As hard as it was to deal with the tantrums and the nighttime feedings and the picky toddler, the photos from that time period make you want to cry at some point.
I’m at that point. 
Don’t get me wrong - this stage of parenting is great too. I don’t have to wipe anyone’s butt and they can all shower themselves now. 
They can make small meals and stay home alone. And all of that is blissful just like I imagined. 
But I’m not going to lie - I see pictures like this and I miss my babies. That little girl in front is a Senior in high school. That toddler on my hip is in his first year in junior high. That cute kid my husband is holding? He just started high school. 
And I’m ticked that they were right. 
You will miss it one day. 
I miss their voices and dimpled hands and I miss that feeling at night when you go to bed so exhausted from just surviving. 
Do I want to go back? Ha! No. 
Well maybe for a few minutes to take a deep breath of their heads and get a hug with their toddler arms around my neck. 
Maybe to hear, “Mama!” One more time. 
But go back for good? Nope. The no butt wiping is pretty awesome. 
Hang in there mamas. You’ll miss it one day but don’t get hung up on that. It’s kind of nice in a way to get that lump in your throat and know how far you’ve come. ❤️
Anxiety VS Depression - I am studying the differen Anxiety VS Depression - I am studying the differences this week in school and made this little graphic to organize my own brain after studying the DSM 5

Disclaimer - nothing is absolute with mental health but knowledge is POWER. Take care of yourselves people. You deserve it. 
🧠❤️
SAME. @notfolu SAME. @notfolu
I feel like I’m failing. And today it was over I feel like I’m failing. 
And today it was over a loaf of bread. Freaking bread, man. 
My daughter came home from school for lunch and wanted a grilled cheese but we were out of bread. 
I knew we were out of bread and I thought I got bread in my grocery order last night but apparently I didn’t. 
This resulted in a short grumpy exchange where she stormed out and we both later apologized over text. 
Me for failing at having bread. 
Her for overreacting. 
I used to be so on top of meal planning and prep and keeping everyone’s favorite things stocked. 
Now I’m failing at it. 
I knew when I went back to school balls would be dropped. And apparently keeping track of the food is where I’m failing. I know I’m not failing at everything (my GPA is amazing) but failure still sucks when you’re used to doing something competently but your brain or body or whatever can no longer do it all. You’ve reached max capacity. 
They aren’t going to starve by any means and teenagers can go get their own bread. I know I know. 
But it’s always been my job. And now I just can’t do it the way I used to. 
It symbolizes the way all women inevitably fail when one. More. Thing. Gets added to our plates. 
The mental load is too much from the moment we become the wives and the moms. Honestly adulting feels hard these days in general. For my husband too. We frequently feel like we’re drowning in responsibility and tasks. 
A loaf of bread makes me feel like a failure. 
WHY does anyone sign up for this? 😅 
Anyway - maybe you’re not crazy enough to go back to school like me but one more thing still got added to your adulting plate and you know you will fail in one area or another. 
You will. 
It may not be the loaf bread like me but something will get dropped or forgotten. Mistakes WILL be made. 
The mental load is heavy. 
Let’s normalize failure ok? 
Not in all areas but in some when the load gets too heavy. 
Because this mama needs that reassurance right now. Maybe you do too.
😂💀 @nora.dominick 😂💀 @nora.dominick
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Working on figuring out my mission as we speak. ❤️
Is anyone else like this? #dietcokeaddict #pebblei Is anyone else like this? #dietcokeaddict #pebbleice #adhd #momlifebelike
Hello friends, it’s me. Meredith. Here are a f Hello friends, it’s me. Meredith. 

Here are a few things I’d tell you if I could call you all up: 

❤️ It’s ok to say no to things.

❤️ Your kiddos don’t need perfection - they need real. Emotional, Messy, flawed, etc. It helps them know their emotions are valid. 

❤️ Having anxiety or depression does not mean you’re an inadequate parent. 

❤️ Never be ashamed of asking for help or going on medication if necessary. 

❤️Kids can be draining. Take time for yourself. I promise you’ll be able to be a better, more present parent if you do this. 

❤️ Boundaries are your friend. People that make you feel like you’re not enough are not. 

Hang in there. It doesn’t get easier - like at all. But you get stronger.
I wrote this a few years ago. It helped me process I wrote this a few years ago. It helped me process feelings of never measuring up and feeling lIke someone else would do it better than me. 
I don’t feel like this very often anymore. But I know that there are plenty of mothers out there that do. You aren’t alone. 
The experience of Motherhood is definitely something that humbles even the most confident mothers. 
I wasn’t one to have much confidence once I began but I got there eventually. 
If you’re in this headspace of wondering if you’re enough I’m here to tell you:
1. You are. 
2. This is NORMAL. 
3. This post is for you. 
Read it on my substack now and consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. ❤️ It supports me as I hopefully support you.
I certainly didn’t. @a.mom.uncensored I certainly didn’t. @a.mom.uncensored
I see nothing wrong here. I see nothing wrong here.
Still not there yet. 😑 #ikea #momlifebelike #ik Still not there yet. 😑 #ikea #momlifebelike #ikeahack #jokesfordays
This was my mom’s desk when she was little. At s This was my mom’s desk when she was little. At some point it got passed down to one of her grandchildren. Then it made its way to my house and all three of my kids have used it too. 
My middle decided he was done with it and I had no idea what to do with it. It’s almost an antique at this point and I knew my mom felt sentimental about it. It’s heavy and tiny but it has good bones as they say. 
My mom lives too far away to come get it and the grandkids are all getting too big to want this desk in their rooms. 
I walked around my little house looking for a spot for it. There really isn’t one. 
Could it be an end table? Or swapped out for an entry table? 
But then I walked into my bedroom and saw this bare wall. It’s not ideal. My husband will hate it. But I’ve been thinking that I needed a study spot in my house (in a room with a door that shuts and locks) since I’m in school again at 46 years old. 
I’m hilariously too big for this little desk but also it seems just fine for sitting and writing papers. 
The older I get, the more I realize that this life is short and I’m sure it will make my mom happy to know I’m not only hanging onto this desk a little while longer but it’s going to be used for actual school work again instead of hoarding useless scraps of paper, half filled notebooks and dull crayons no one has touched in years. 
I’m breathing life back into this desk for a few more years and it seems symbolic of my taking something old (me) and using it for something new (becoming a therapist). 
I’m not super sentimental about furniture but I’m sentimental about the people that I love. 
She loves this desk so I guess I’ll love it a little longer on her behalf. ❤️
🚨Vulnerable post alert! My latest on substack: 🚨Vulnerable post alert! My latest on substack: "I feel depressed that it’s back, when I had been handling things so well.
I feel hopeless that although I know it will end, that it will come back again.
I feel embarrassed that I’m sometimes mean to the ones I love most.
I feel like I want to give up.
I feel tired.
I feel overwhelmed by the tiniest thing.
I feel alone. I feel like I’m literally the only one feeling that way in that moment even though I know I’m not deep down. But, anxiety makes me feel like that.
I feel like I just would be better off if I could disappear."
First day back after a week long vacay to the fun First day back after a week long vacay to the fun of carpool and the reality of being a responsible adult is kicking my boot-ay. Can you tell? 😅
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