Garrett's terrible two-ness has gone off the charts recently, coinciding with the arrival of Bodie. He's always had a little nonconformist attitude, a born maverick. Now he's the epitome of rebellion. Tantrums have become the norm now when things don't work out for him. Its obvious that he's going to have a hard time adjusting to not being the baby anymore. Its hard to see him go through this process, and I'm sure its really hard on him. Being two is an age full of emotional expansion anyway. He was just getting to that point where he is figuring out his own personality: a zany little jester. He loves to be the center of attention and to make people laugh. Bodie has stolen a little slice of that limelight, and its causing Garrett to become an emotional basket case. One minute we're having fun playing "fire truck rescue", the next minute he's stomping around screaming for mama to play too, after he notices she's tending to Bodie.

One good thing is that I don't think he actually resents Bodie or blames him for the shift in family dynamics. He is just as sweet as can be with the baby. When Bodie cries, Garrett pats his head and tries to put the pacifier in for him. Both of his big brothers are really great with Bodie in that sense.

However, Garrett is constantly teetering on the edge of a tantrum nowadays. Even when were alone together, like last night at the store. I was on a mission, as usual. I had a short list and intended to be in and out of there like a Navy Seal, but my cart rider had other intentions. Every time I turned left, he wanted to go right. He had to go down every aisle in the store!  "This way, daddy! THIS WAY!!" He'd point in the opposite direction every time. If I refused to obey, the kid would howl like a werewolf at a full moon. No kidding - it makes the hair on your neck stand up. I would then obediently turn the cart for him. It's like Dr. Phil says, "You need to pick your battles carefully, but win the battles you pick." That's the philosophy I subscribe to. I don't care if people at the store see me being directed around by a half pint of hot sauce, at least I completed the mission! To win that battle, I would have had to abandon the cart and whisk him out of there. 

On the way home, I can't even listen to my talk show on the radio. If he doesn't get the music he likes, its pure tantrum all the way home. "Punk rock music, daddy! Punk rock music right now!" he bawls. Its actually really cute, the way he says "punk wock, wight now!". His taste in music is right on par with his attitude at the moment. Forceful and obnoxious. Gavin likes all genres of music, but Garrett is stuck on one mode for now. So if he's in the car, he gets his way. That's just another battle not worth fighting.

Probably the funniest example of the conflict going on in Garrett's head is at supper time. We sit down and he looks at the food in front of him.
I ask "Are you hungry?"
He quickly replies "NO! I want to eat!"
Okay. "How about some green beans?" I say.
"No green beans. Just Jungle Rapids!" he retorts. Jungle Rapids is the local water park, which is closed for the season. It's his normal outlandish request which he knows I won't fulfill, leading him more quickly into tantrumville.
"Alright. I'll eat the beans then." I say as I poke a bean with my fork.
"No! It's mine!" he yowls as he pokes it with his own fork. He usually begins to eat after that. It happens that way almost every night. I don't know if reverse psychology is a good thing to use with toddlers, but it gets him to eat his supper.

Besides choosing the battles, the only other helpful bit of advice we've found is to just let his tantrums happen, and recognize that its a natural part of being a toddler. Be there for him, hold him if he wants to be held (usually not) and make sure he doesn't hurt himself. That's all you can do. After the tantrum, he's actually in a great mood and very amiable. It kind of goes along with the "How to Share" blog I wrote. Just let him get all that frustration out!

I think this stage will pass. In fact, someday I'll miss this, I bet. These kids grow too fast. I wish every year would last more like five.