On being a Momma with a 3 year old

When you first become a Momma, doctor's offices are excited for you and your bundle to come in. You feel important, they usher you in quickly to get the baby out of the waiting room with all of the sickies. They get you in and out because they know it must be hard to be out and about with an infant. As your baby grows, the oohs and aahs seem to multiply and everywhere you go, people are giving you knowing smiles and tons of compliments. 

At some point, right around the 3 year mark, that all changes and there is a noticable shift in attitude towards you and your child. No longer are the "Can I have a cookie (or a balloon or whatever grabs her eye)" requests, "Adorable!", now people glare at the mother who is not raising her child with manners or a knowledge of good public graces. 

Now when we go to the doctor's office, it's as if they are intent on making every visit as long, excrutiating, embarassing and frustrating as possible. We wait in the waiting room, (while my child morphs into every animal on the planet, leaping off chairs, crawling under tables), we wait in the exam room, (while she pulls all of the paper off of the rolls and "decorates"), we wait in the hallway (while the nurse searches every nook, cranny and drawer for a piece of candy that my child refuses to leave without). 

When she was small, I would take her into the store and talk to her about what I was making for dinner and what I saw in the store, there was always a running narrative wherever we went: while I was driving, shopping, crocheting or just strolling her at the park. Now my days are filled with," Young lady, I am counting to 3.", "Get down from there." "Stop climbing on that." "We're leaving because you are not listening".

The delight of a baby that I nursed and cradled, that hardly ever cried and that was always happy has morphed into this tornado of frenetic activity that bounces off of walls, jumps on and off of my couch, hits when she is angry and performs in public. 

Performs in public?, you ask. Why yes, yes she does. She creates dances and songs in the middle of a busy Publix aisle at the drop of hat and then performs for all to see and hear. And, in case she is not getting the attention that she wants, she will yell, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! IT'S THE Supergirl SHOW!!!!"

So what should a tired momma do? I keep praying that it is a phase that she will grow out of, but when she grows out of this - What will she grow into?

I will let you know, dear reader.

XOXO,

One Scared Momma