Mama's Chronicles of the Two Year Old

Matthew has officially reached the Terrible Two stage. Following is the evidence:

1. Sunday morning we had a major meltdown over which shoes (of course) he was going to wear. He wanted the ratty old tennis shoes, which I didn't want.

2. He has also started crying, no, wailing, when I put him to bed at his usual time. So I let him stay up a little later. More crying. It doesn't matter how long he has been up, he's decided to wail when it's bedtime -- tired or not.

3. He is refusing to ride in shopping carts. Today I attempted to place him in the cart at Target and in a split second he had climbed out of the cart and was trying to swing his leg over my shoulder in an effort to escape the evil confinement of the cart. Everywhere I go, I feel mauled by some wild animal. Oh. It's only a two year old.

4. We have to keep the chain latched on the front door, or Matthew's out of here. This morning I found him trying to unfasten the chain with the kitchen broom. I am continually surprised by his resourcefulness.

5. He can open the fridge, and therefore, everything is fair game. Cheese, tomatoes, squash, you name it, he'll try it. And then put it back with just a bite taken out of it.