oh my how things have changed

Here is a picture of the twins when they were about 6 weeks old.  I was just looking back at some old photos of them and thinking about the fact they will be 3 in less than 3 weeks!  I'm a little nostalgic for these babies who were so sweet and cuddly.  These little ones have turned into mostly loving, beautiful, smart kids but at times have pretty fascinating temper tantrums.  And by "at times" I mean EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I was the picture of excellent mothering today.  I had the baby smartly strapped to me so I would have two hands.  I had Woodson sweetly holding my hand or the stroller at all times.  And I had MA screaming shrilly at the top her her lungs "NO MAMA, NO!" limply laying on the floor after I had tried to take her by the arm out of the Science Museum.  I spied several knowing mommy looks and then a few glares of moms who haven't reached this stage yet or have simply blocked it out.

I carried her under my arm, all 35 lbs of dead body weight (by the grace of God), with baby strapped in, and Woodson on the other hand trailing sluggishly while EVERYONE looked at me.  We made it to the nearest restroom so I could do some mothering out of the public eye and naively, thought the storm had passed.  Instead of leaving immediately we took a detour to check out the party room.

Mistake.  We now have the stroller and Woodson is holding onto the right side.  MA decides the left side is not the good side and naturally shoves Woodson to overtake the right side.  He holds firm and frankly, I feel like he was there first and she should just hang onto the left side.  I can't figure out what is wrong with the left side.  Part of this is related to the fact I am still pretty ticked about the scene she made earlier for NO REASON (did I mention that it started because we were just going to walk downstairs?).  She looses it yet again.  Now I have W holding stroller.  Baby is still strapped onto my chest, I am pushing the stroller with my right hand and MA is under the left arm kicking and screaming.  I am no longer trying to reason with her.  I just need to GET OUT.  After all, I am red, sweating and really, really mad.  Oh yeah, and we have to walk to the back of the parking lot to get to the car, in the rain.  All I was trying to do was to take them to a fun place on a rainy day.

And it isn't just MA.  It is W too.  I am so proud of him for using the potty all morning. But why oh why must we pee everywhere in the house?  How is it that my child can find the potty in the Museum but not at our home.  And why is it that when he demands a PB&J for dinner (after he had one for lunch and a half for snack - yes this is all true) I feel the need to require him to eat...wait for it...3 grapes in order to obtain one for dinner?  Perhaps because I know there is no nutritional value in PB&J and it will make me feel better to see him eat 3 grapes first?  Now MA is being an angel and quickly eats her grapes.  Now I have to stand by my word.  Guess who gets dinner?  Guess who doesn't?  What to do?  I don't want to send the boy to bed without food but really, 3 grapes?  They aren't even peas?  I even offered a banana or an apple and after a while...yogurt.  Something, anything with perceived value.  Nope.  He won't do it.

Days like today I wonder if I am really cut out for this.  Am I too stubborn?  Do I expect too much of 3 year olds?  I have no idea.