Hard Headed

I don't understand how one child can be so different from one day to the next.  Mornings can be very difficult for us with Aiden.  I decided this week that I wanted to start picking out his clothes the night before to see if that would help. 

Monday morning, Aiden refused to get dressed. Instead, he sat on the couch with his clothes and cried the entire time we were getting ready.  I withheld his Lucky Charms during the car ride since those are for big boys, not babies.  (He gets breakfast at daycare, so don't worry that he missed a meal.)  Monday night, we explained that when he woke up, he would have to get dressed in the morning ALL BY HIMSELF if he wanted cereal.  The kid loves cereal.

Tuesday morning was straight out of a dream.  Aiden woke up, came out of his room and said good morning to both Travis and I.  Then he went to the bathroom and went back to his room.  He came back out 30 seconds later with his clothes in hand, sat on the couch and got dressed.  He asked for help with his shoes.  (Which he can do by himself sometimes, but not others?)  He got ready quickly enough that he had time to eat a bowl of cereal with milk before we left. 

Magical, right?  Praise ensued.

Well, it was too good to last.  Last night, we told him again how proud of him we were.  We told him the same thing we did the night before: if you get dressed all by your self, then you can have cereal.  

This morning was a complete disaster.  I'm sure part of the problem is he didn't wake up on his own.  Whenever we have to wake him up, he is Oscar the Grouch.  He just wouldn't get up!  Finally, Travis was able to get him out of bed, but he suddenly couldn't dress himself.  And instead of asking for help, he just threw fit after fit about it.  Non-stop.  About everything.  He didn't get any cereal on the ride into daycare (they're having cereal for breakfast at daycare - yay!) and he continued to cry right up to when I left him there.  For all I know, he's still sitting over there crying.  

IT IS SO STRESSFUL BEING A PARENT.  Especially when you have one that will only do as he pleases.  I keep hoping that Mila will be easier so we don't have to struggle with two kids everyday.

My mom always says I was exactly like Aiden when I was little.  Stubborn, independent and fought her tooth and nail.  I have some memories of that.  I actually recall a few of those moments.  I remember purposely fighting her because I didn't want her to win.  I always wonder if that's what's going through Aiden's head.  If he's actually like me, then hopefully that means he'll get better as he gets older.  I don't think I gave my mom as hard of a time after I started school.

Crossing my fingers...