Mom Jean Confessions: Why Two and a Half is PEAK Terrible Twos

Well it’s official – Cha Cha is in PEAK terrible twos mode. She’s been building up to it for a while now, but she just turned two and a half – and it’s like the game changed over night. I went from being down by 10 at the half, to trailing by 50 with 2 min left in the game and no timeouts left (please tell me someone appreciates my football humor ?)…I’m actually convinced for most children, “terrible twos” start at about the year and a half mark, and go well into three and four years old. I’ve even polled several of my mom friends and they agree – terrible twos might as well mean for two years straight the sweet little angel you once knew will take on the life of a deranged lunatic that makes you question your own sanity on a daily basis.

Those who used to sleep through the night just fine, now think that sleeping in a “big girl bed” is code for “all-night rager” and we’re the DD.

Those who would eat any and everything you put in front of their chubby little faces, now will look at actual food as if it’s some foreign contaminate and you suddenly become someone’s “snack whore” overnight.

Those who barely could speak more than 5 words, now yell obscenities at you that would make a prison inmate blush.

Those who were completely content letting others do literally e-ver-y-thing for them, now suddenly know how to do everything themselves including dressing like Ace Ventura visiting a mental institution.

But even though you may feel physically and emotionally abused by a tiny stranger who makes you question whether you’re a complete glutton for punishment – just remember, they’re still in there.

That sweet mama’s boy? Yep, still in there. That little daddy’s girl? Nope, didn’t go anywhere.

In fact, this is our turn to truly get to know one another, without all the baby stuff. They’re little people now with big emotions that scare even them half the time. So the next time you try and blame yourself for any of it – just stop. Stop and remember this phase will end, and our job is to learn and grow with them. Not to wish it away. Because I promise you, the moment you do, they’ll be 6 ft tall walking off a stage holding a diploma, and you’ll wish with all your being you could turn back time to see them experience life like this again. When it’s all new and changing, and there’s nothing more they need or want in this world than you mama.

You can watch me confess more about how Cha Cha has been giving us a run for our money, and how Grant and I are dealing with it via my latest “Mom Jean Confessions” video below, and catch more of the series on my IGTV and YouTube channels.