Tornado Charlie

Introducing.....miss Charlie!  She is almost three ("two n-a haff!" as she likes to announce), She is my love, my inspiration, and my reason for getting out of bed most days.  She is growing like a weed and her brain is a sponge and then some.  She is her daddy's little princess, and the most beautiful girl in the world.  All is as it should be.  

Did I mention she is almost three?  As in...still two?  Those of you who have had children can collectively groan now.  You all know what is coming.....oh-my-GAWD what a holy terror!  Just now, she announced to me, "I'm cleaning out your purse, momma!"  I am afraid to look.  

My day starts with cleaning and ends with cleaning. When daddy comes home from work, he starts cleaning. Yet my house is never, ever clean.   It is not just a little bit disheveled.  It is not slightly out of sorts here and there.  It is a MESS!  Seriously.  She is a true whirlwind, jumping bean, and exhaustion production specialist.  Aye yai yai.  

Today, we are having the beans battle.  Charlie is insistent on having beans.  Every opportunity she gets to ask, beg, or demand beans she has taken.  Only, we are not discussing the legume variety here. Even with the stinky toddler toots that satisfying such a desire might produce, I would still gladly give her beans if she wanted them.  Beans are high in antioxidants, fiber, protein, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and zinc.  Beans are good for you.  M & M's are not.  

Charlie is currently having a meltdown in the middle of the living room because here daddy will not give her any more "beans".  These "beans" are the itty-bitty, mini M & M's that come in a toddler hand sized tube with a cap that she can open (what am I saying?  She can open every cap.  It's us adults that struggle with the child-proof packaging).  Hubby is sighing and groaning in the kitchen.  Charlie, you are driving your daddy NUTS!  We hear that at least four times...every hour.  He is exasperated.  I am just happy she is terrorizing him right now, and not me.  

Hubby is trying to cook dinner, whilst Charles is upset because he won't jump on her little trampoline with her.  When he finally finds a spot to take a break and come jump she has already loaded herself up into her high chair and announces that she is now ready for dinner! Sheesh!

Look, I understand all of this behavior is normal, just part of the growing process, and indicative of her healthy brain learning independence, problem solving skills, emotional control, and new vocabulary.  I understand that every parent on the planet has gone through their own version of Tornado Charlie, some several times more than we have or ever will.  I understand that we are not unique! I just want it to stop. Now, please. Please!  It's not cute and it does not endear me to her in any way.  It turns me into someone I do not like very much.  Either I lose my temper and start to yell, or ignore her completely.  Either way, I morph into a modern incarnate of the evil, psychotic mother from Mommie Dearest.  No.... wire.... hangers... EVER!!!!!!!!!!