A Jake Kind of Day

We have hit the terrible-twos as if we were running full force and hit a brick wall. I knew my day was coming, and maybe all moms feel this way, but I feel as if I've done something wrong! Did I not spend enough time with him reading, playing outside, working on words and skills? Did I let him watch too much TV? Do I have his schedule too flexible? Do we need to go back to the very rigid scheduling? Why is he acting out like this? And WHO is this child?!

Deep down, I know that it's nothing I've done (right?!). But I still ask myself all these questions.

So, I decided, for the sake of all things Jake... that we would just have ourselves a Jake kind of day this afternoon. So, when we got home from Mops, we did whatever he wanted to do. Because, truthfully, we never do that. We do what mommy wants. I get little to no opposition, but I thought, what the heck... his attitude is not in tip-top shape and, honestly, I need some time to enjoy him rather than feel like I'm constantly in "no" mode or redirection mode. So, this is how we spent our afternoon. :)

Outside. It is his favorite place. Isn't it every little boy's? So much to explore! I wish I'd started taking pictures earlier than this. When we first went outside, we had a picnic. Then he took his chips and put them on his little lawn mower and pushed the chips all over the backyard until they fell off the mower. And then he ate them off the ground, in perfect little boy fashion.

Of COURSE we colored.

We played ball.

We looked at bugs.

We swung in the swing (notice chalk still in hand).

Shoved every piece of chalk inside of the dump truck's cab.

pushed the dump truck around with chalk in cab and lawn sign in back.

Pushed the ball in the dump truck.
FYI our big outside truck came from the Goodwill--love that place!!

Now, don't get me wrong... we go outside frequently. But today we spent literally hours outside. Like, we postponed nap time just to be doing what Jake wanted. This was quite a feat for me. In fact, I spoke with both my parents during this time, both of which were very shocked I'd let Jake stay "up" for so long. Haha. I don't feel like I'm that rigid. Maybe I'm more rigid than I thought! Anyway, we enjoyed our little fun time. And I enjoyed be able to enjoy my little boy during this crazy time of terrible twos.