While I'm learning a lot about trying to stay one step ahead of the curious, easily frustrated, and often amusing little man, I'm learning even more about myself. You see, Gary will tell anyone that I'm about OCD, neat-freak, perfectionist. Everything has it's place and if it's not where it belongs in the house, it bothers me - a lot. I want to have one thing out, and then have it put back away before the next things comes out. (Apparently my mother did succeed back along the line somewhere of instilling that rule of only having out one toy at a time.) I try to remind myself that a clean and organized house isn't the most important thing. But then I'm in the middle of sorting baby clothes, and I leave Britt watching a video for 10 minutes to get a load of laundry and I come back to discover that all the clean and dirty clothes are mixed up, and 30 minutes worth of sorting out clothes they have outgrown has been wasted because he has dumped out all the drawers and scattered clothing all over 3 rooms. When I ask Britt what are you doing?!? and he responds with "I hep" or he laughs and runs off, it's hard to remember that order isn't the most important thing.

Some times I struggle with wondering if I have unreasonable expectations for Britt. I mean after all he is only 2. I expect him to need reminders about things, but I don't really think that it's unreasonable to tell him no and him immediately glare at us and do it anyway. It was getting to the point that I felt like I was spanking him all day. Momma being frustrated has been the theme of the last month around here, so I went to several veteran mothers - sisters at the Church, those with grown kids, those with small kids, and I canvased for ideas. I have felt like we are spanking him to much and want to find away to avoid misbehavior and destruction rather than constantly punishing it.

On primarily Aunt Joanna's suggestion I have made a few changes. The best change we've made around here is in putting Britt on a chair when he is pitching a fit. Before, we would spank him and he would continue to thrash and knock over chairs and throw things, and this way, he can't hurt anyone. We don't allow him to get up until I can ask him "Are you calm now?" and he answers, "I calm." The other thing I've done over the last week or so is I've and read Dr. James Dobson's books, The New Strong-Willed Child and The New Dare to Discipline. Several of the sisters suggested him, and like anything there were some things we threw out, and there were some things that we are using. I wish I had happened across them sooner, they by far are the best parenting books we've seen.

I hope that maybe as things get more back to a routine that Britt will settle down some. Of course, if he is as strong willed as I was, it may be a long time before he settles down. Despite the frustrations, I keep reminding myself a spotless house isn't vital, and that parenting is largely trial and error. As Daddy has said, "Parenting is like trying to hit a moving target. What works today, might not work tomorrow. What works on one child, might not work on the next." Oh well, I suppose after we make all the mistakes with Britt we'll be closer to getting it right with the next one, haha.