Learning the ropes

Zoe is always learning new words, formulating better sentences all the time. I wish I would have kept a list of her new found words, and when she started using them.  It's just funny to think that two years ago, my little girl was just learning to smile.  That and crying were about her only forms of communication.  Amazing!  

Her new word this week is: Nuffin.  As in, "What are you doing, Zoe?" Her response, "Nuffin."  Haha!  It's just too cute!

She's 2 years, 5 months old.  WOW! Almost 2.5 years old.  We have a toddler!  She definitely has her 'terrible 2' days.  But it's a new world for her. She now hears 'No' more than she has ever heard that before in her short little life.  She's being denied her wants now that they are easily discernible from her needs.  What? That just can't be.  When her needs/wants weren't so recognizable, she got accustomed to getting what she wanted when she wanted.  I can really see where it's a culture shock for her right now.  Poor baby.  

Then, we have to remind ourselves of how old she is.  As well as she speaks, as well as she seems to understand, she's still just a two year old . . . with a two year old vocabulary. She can't express everything the way she wants or needs to. She has feelings that she doesn't even have words for, yet.  She doesn't know what 'frustrated' means.  But she knows what it feels like.  She can't say 'difficult', but she has many difficulties.  

Then you have the mood swings.  I use to always say, all kids are bipolar . . . because of those mood swings.  One minute, happy as can be, the next minute, their world is crumbling before their little eyes.  But the truth is, we as adults, have mood swings.  Sometimes we understand them, sometimes we don't.  Sometimes we can handle them, other times we can't.  And we have experience and hopefully a measure of maturity to deal with those times. My poor little ZoZo doesn't have that benefit.  So why would I be impatient with her during those times? It wouldn't be fair.  

Man, this parenting thing is awesome!  But I guarantee you, my little Zoe Girl, Mommy and Daddy are learning right along with you!