In the mind of a 2 1/2 year old

My 2 1/2 year old is crazy.  And not always in a good way.  We've been having an extremely difficult time lately with boundaries, discipline, expectations, communication, etc.  And I've heard that a lot of this is normal 2-3 year old behavior.  But woah.  There are days when I just feel like I can't take another moment of his screaming or defiance.  Just earlier this week he had his first incident at school where his defiance landed him in the director's office because his teacher couldn't get through to him.  Oh yes.  It's a fun time.  :)

But he's 2 1/2.  He's VERY particular about how he wants things done.  He's smarter than I ever imagined a child his age could be.  And he's testing what he can get away with.  I remind myself 5,000 times a day - this is normal, this is normal, this is normal.  He will not act this way forever, he will not act this way forever, he will not act this way forever.

And then for every insane, crazy, difficult moment we have, we have moments of sheer joy - when I see what a kind and gentle little boy he really can be, and I wonder how a child could be so wonderful.

(Yes, it's a great big roller coaster.)

We haven't told him much about the baby at all.  We certainly told him nothing during the first trimester.  Explaining a baby to a child is hard enough without then worrying about un-explaining it.  And then we've brought it up here and there a couple of times since our 12 week ultrasound.  He has an 8 month old cousin "A" who he has been around several times since she was born and he ADORES her.  You have never seen anything sweeter.  He is SO gentle an SO compassionate with her.  He wants to share toys with her and hug her, and he tells us that he loves her.  So every now and then we will say, "Would you mommy and daddy to get you a friend like "A"?"  And he always says, "YES!" with so much enthusiasm.  

But last night we went further with this story than we've gone before.  We told him he has to be careful with my belly (good grief he loves to jump into my lap) because there is a baby brother inside my belly.  And one day baby brother will come out and our son will have a little friend just like "A."   

And the whole time I'm explaining this I'm feeling like I'm talking to myself and he is not going to comprehend a single solitary word.  Let me tell you something . . . don't ever underestimate the mind of an almost 3 year old.

First reaction.  "Can I touch baby brother?"  Yes.  Of course touching through my shirt did not suffice, he wanted to touch my belly.  I explained when he was touching that baby brother is safe inside right now.

Second reaction.  Runs to grab a matchbox car and jams it in my belly button and says, "It's for baby brother."  Cue pregnancy hormones and the tears started coming.  Aside from being ridiculously funny that he thought he could share one of his cars with baby brother through my belly button, how much sweeter of a reaction could you ask for from a little boy???

Third reaction.  "I want baby brother to come out now."  Hahahaha.  Oh dear.  My son barely understands the concept of tomorrow.  We tried to explain that he won't come out for a while longer - and it's going to seem like a long time.  How much he understood of that explanation, I have no idea.

And that was pretty much it for the conversation last night.  And you never know how much they might remember or forget either.  But I will say again, never underestimate the mind of an almost 3 year old.

We were getting ready for school this morning, and as I was getting dressed he came running up to my belly and yelled, "Hi baby brother!"  And then proceeded to ask me if I could take baby brother out.  LOL.  

It's going to be an interesting several months watching him work through what little understanding we could possibly expect him to have of what's really about to happen to his only-child life.  And an even more interesting transition once baby brother arrives.  (I told my husband last night that I predict baby brother will be here for about 45 minutes before our son asks if we can put him back!)

But one thing I know for sure, our son is going to make one amazingly awesome big brother!  :)