When Kenley was a newborn, I secretly longed for the day that both kids could and WOULD play together. Civil like. And then I could go about my business and they could entertain each other for 5 minutes so that I could use the bathroom alone, prep dinner, or BLINK.
Sadly my friends, that was not to become a reality. Well, 90% of the time it’s not.
Exhibit A.
While Brayden was a pretty mild mannered toddler (for the most part), Kenley is the total opposite. She wants what she wants and she wanted it 5 minutes ago. We actually laugh a little when she starts getting really mad about something. She’s so determined. She’s headstrong, bossy, and needs her own country to run.
She’s feisty and that has posed a totally new ballgame up in this house.
TWO strong willed children.
The other night, my sister and brother-in-law were over, and Eric asked “What do you think would happen if you left them alone for an hour?” Brandon immediately said “they would kill each other.”
All joking aside, I have $10 on Kenley. Every. Time.
Girl knows what she wants! And I know this will pay off later in life. (I hope.) And it isn’t a bad trait whatsoever, but it makes parenting an almost 18 month old somewhat of a challenge.
Generally, when I hear crying or arguing from another room and I don’t know who started it, I generally guess it was Brayden. But then I will catch Kenley being an instigator. So, I pull them apart, ask Brayden “what happened?” instead of “what did you do?” and go from there. It’s not perfect but at least then it’s giving him a fair chance to say “I hurt her because” or “she took that from me”– the most popular answers.
80% of my day is spent as a referee. Please tell me I am not the only one.
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