Twin Tantrums

Okay folks...I was under the impression that tantrums came with toddlers. Not precious little babies. And when exactly do they switch from babies to toddlers? And please, please don't tell me that these fits are going to be part of my daily life for the unforseeable future (because if that is the case, I might start stealing the dog's prozac -- see next post). Why is it starting so soon? They're only 8 months old. And more importantly, when is it going to stop? And MOST importantly, how do I guard against tantrum CONTAGION, which is what we have been experiencing these past few miserable days in the Corey house.

Yesterday, I made the mistake of thinking I could get dinner in the crockpot when I got the second kid down for a late morning nap. I'm not sure what led me to this conclusion, since Emmet only sleeps for 15 minute daytime spurts, unless he is held in my arms. But seeing as I had a good coupla pounds of beef chuck in the fridge and no baby in my arms, I thought I might have enough time to cut it up and brown it -- the only step that requires physical agility when cooking a pot roast in the crock pot. I was wrong. I was very, very wrong.

It's hard to soothe a baby who is shrieking for no apparent reason, while your hands are dripping with raw, red meat. It's much harder to calm two of them. And then there are the dogs who are either shaking in the corner wishing that I would do something to make the screaming stop (or at least get to CVS to fill his prozac perscription), OR sensing my desperation views this moment as the perfect opportunity for a chunk of beef to land right in her panting open mouth if she can continue to wind her body between my feet until I crack. The recipe called for a cup of red wine. I stared down the remainder of that bottle wondering about the consequences of finishing it off at 12:50 in the afternoon. But I wanted to be clear headed for Miles' doggy shrink appointment at 3pm, so I pulled it together.

Today, they are home with Aunt Carol for the first Tuesday of her weekly childcare commitment. I called to see if she was ready to start drinking at this point in the day as well, but she said they had not cried at all. THEY HAVE NOT CRIED AT ALL!!! They're storing it up, waiting for me to get home. They are saving their screams for mommy. How darling!