I’m the annoying mom who didn’t experience the terrible twos with her firstborn. Age three proved much more of a challenge with my son, and even at its worst, I don’t remember my son throwing many tantrums.

Before you start to envy me, though, fear not. My second-born spirited daughter has opened my eyes to the terrible twos. I can assure any doubters out there that this developmental stage is as real as the pain I felt during child labor.

The terrible twos look like . . . 

My daughter striking the power pose with her hands on her hips at least 10 times a day. This pose is accompanied with a scowl on her face and a loud, “NO” preceding a meltdown when she doesn’t get what she wants.

They look like my daughter kicking and screaming in the grocery store when I don’t buy her a lollipop. The strangers in the grocery store all stare, half are compassionate looks, half are judgmental looks.

They include fits thrown over the smallest matters in my mind that are earth-shattering actions to my two-year-old, like taking away the scissors or wiping her face clean.

The terrible twos sound like . . . 

“Mommy, I help you.” I hear this phrase often throughout the day. “Mommy, I help you,” said before she provides the opposite of help with laundry, cooking, and cleaning.

They also sound like, “All by myself,” even if she can’t do what she wants to do. “All by myself,” when it’s time to wash her hands even though she can’t reach the sink.

And wails. I can’t leave out the wails that come with the territory of the terrible twos.

The terrible twos feel like . . . 

Having an adorable little grenade running around, never knowing what is going to set her off.

It’s a helpless feeling when I watch my daughter’s sweet face turn bright red. I want to take her angry tears away, but sometimes the only thing I can do is offer support.

It’s hard to watch this little person who you love so much struggle with learning the limits on her newfound independence.

Sometimes I feel a sense of panic that time is unforgiving in how fast the years go. Am I taking these years in? Am I appreciating every moment? The honest answer is no. I’m not because these years are hard. They’re hard and magical, and the last thing I want to do is miss the magic because I’m focusing on the hard.

Because the terrible twos also look like . . . 

My arms wrapped around my daughter on my lap. They look like precious baby dimples on the backs of her hands. Though she stretches longer every day, she still has her baby fat to the point that it’s impossible to find shoes to fit her chubby, brick-like feet.

They look like her hair that is soft and straight on top with baby curls underneath. She’s part toddler, part baby, and the baby part fades away more and more every day.

They look like me breathing in the sweet smell of strawberry yogurt leftover on her velvety cheek and smothering her cheeks with kisses.

The terrible twos also sound like . . . 

The music that can only be made from a little girl’s laughter.

The hilarity that can only come from a child with no filter.

And heart melting phrases like, “I love my fam-ee.”

The terrible twos also feel like . . . 

Wonder as you watch this personality unfold that is all your child’s own.

Excitement as you see them understand the world in new ways.

Love beyond measure that makes you want to freeze time before one more ounce of babyhood is lost.

Sometimes I have the terrible twos blues over the difficulty of this stage, but most of the time I have the terrible twos blues because I never want this phase to end.

Isn’t that parenting in a nutshell? Simultaneously feeling the heavy weight of how much you are needed and never wanting the need to go away.

“All by myself.”

Please don’t rush it, sweet girl. I want to soak up every last inch of baby in you.

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Order Now
So God Made a Mother's Story Keepsake Journal

Kristen Guest

Kristen Guest is a wife, mom of two, and a lover of truth. She enjoys writing because it’s cheaper than therapy. She blogs about motherhood, faith, and personal development on her blog at www.mamastay.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Our Kids Need Us as Much as We Need Them

In: Kids, Motherhood
Little boy sitting on bench with dog nearby, color photo

During a moment of sadness last week, my lively and joyful toddler voluntarily sat with me on the couch, holding hands and snuggling for a good hour. This brought comfort and happiness to the situation. At that moment, I realized sometimes our kids need us, sometimes we need them, and sometimes we need each other at the same time. Kids need us. From the moment they enter the world, infants express their needs through tiny (or loud) cries. Toddlers need lots of cuddling as their brains try to comprehend black, white, and all the colors of the expanding world around...

Keep Reading

Your Kids Don’t Need More Things, They Need More You

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood
Mother and young girl smiling together at home

He reached for my hand and then looked up. His sweet smile and lingering gaze flooded my weary heart with much-needed peace. “Thank you for taking me to the library, Mommy! It’s like we’re on a date! I like it when it’s just the two of us.” We entered the library, hand in hand, and headed toward the LEGO table. As I began gathering books nearby, I was surprised to feel my son’s arms around me. He gave me a quick squeeze and a kiss with an “I love you, Mommy” before returning to his LEGO—three separate times. My typically...

Keep Reading

This Time In the Passenger Seat is Precious

In: Kids, Motherhood, Teen
Teen driver with parent in passenger seat

When you’re parenting preteens and teens, it sometimes feels like you are an unpaid Uber driver. It can be a thankless job. During busy seasons, I spend 80 percent of my evenings driving, parking, dropping off, picking up, sitting in traffic, running errands, waiting in drive-thru lines. I say things like buckle your seat belt, turn that music down a little bit, take your trash inside, stop yelling—we are in the car, keep your hands to yourself, don’t make me turn this car around, get your feet off the back of the seat, this car is not a trash can,...

Keep Reading

So God Made My Daughter a Wrestler

In: Kids, Motherhood
Young female wrestler wearing mouth guard and wrestling singlet

God made my girl a wrestler. Gosh, those are words I would never have thought I would say or be so insanely proud to share with you. But I am. I know with 100 percent certainty and overwhelming pride that God made my girl a wrestler. But it’s been a journey. Probably one that started in the spring of 2010 when I was pregnant with my first baby and having the 20-week anatomy ultrasound. I remember hearing the word “girl” and squealing. I was over the moon excited—all I could think about were hair bows and cute outfits. And so...

Keep Reading

A Big Family Can Mean Big Feelings

In: Faith, Kids, Motherhood
Family with many kids holding hands on beach

I’m a mother of six. Some are biological, and some are adopted. I homeschool most of them. I’m a “trauma momma” with my own mental health struggles. My husband and I together are raising children who have their own mental illnesses and special needs. Not all of them, but many of them. I battle thoughts of anxiety and OCD daily. I exercise, eat decently, take meds and supplements, yet I still have to go to battle. The new year has started slow and steady. Our younger kids who are going to public school are doing great in their classes and...

Keep Reading

You May Be a Big Brother, but You’ll Always Be My Baby

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother with young son, color photo

It seems like yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. Back then, we were new parents, clueless but full of love—a love that words can hardly explain. I can vividly recall holding you in my arms, rocking you in the cutest nursery, and singing sweet lullabies, just like yesterday. I can picture those times when you were teeny-tiny, doing tummy time, and how proud I was of you for lifting your head. And oh, the happiness on your face when “Baby Shark” played over and over—that song always made you smile! We made sure to capture your growth...

Keep Reading

“It Looks and Tastes Like Candy.” Mom Shares Warning about THC Gummies All Parents Need to Hear

In: Kids, Living, Teen
Hand holding bottle of THC gummies

What Aimee Larsen first thought was a stomach bug turned out to be something much more terrifying for her young son. Her 9-year-old woke up one day last week seeming “lethargic, barely able to stand or speak,” his mom shared in a Facebook post. At first, she assumed he had a virus, but something about his behavior just didn’t seem right. She called an ambulance and asked her older sons if their brother might have gotten into something, like cough syrup or another over-the-counter medicine. Their answer? “Yeah, THC gummies.” THC gummies are an edible form of cannabis that contain...

Keep Reading

My Child with Special Needs Made His Own Way in His Own Time

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother holding child's hand walking across street

I want to tell you the story of a little boy who came to live with me when he was three years old. Some of you may find this story familiar in your own life. Your little boy or girl may have grown inside you and shares your DNA or maybe they came into your life much older than three. This little boy, this special child, my precious gift has special needs. Just five short years ago, he was a bit mean and angry, he said few understandable words, and there was a lot about this world he didn’t understand. Unless...

Keep Reading

Dear Daughter as You Grow into Yourself

In: Kids, Motherhood, Tween
Girl in hat and dress-up clothes, color photo

My daughter, I watched you stand in front of the mirror, turning your body left and right. Your skirt was too big and your top on backward. Your bright blue eyeshadow reached your eyebrows and bold red blush went up to your ears. You didn’t care. I watched you marvel at your body, feeling completely at ease in your skin. You turned and admired yourself with pride. You don’t see imperfections. You don’t see things you are lacking. You see goodness. You see strength. RELATED: Daughter, When You Look in the Mirror, This is What I Hope You See I’m...

Keep Reading

Organized Sports Aren’t Everything

In: Kids, Motherhood
Young girl with Alpaca, color photo

Today I watched my little girl walk an alpaca. His name is Captain. Captain is her favorite. He’s my favorite too. I met his owner on Instagram of all places. She thought I was in college; I thought she was a middle-aged woman. Turns out, she is in high school, and I am a middle-aged woman. This random meeting led to a blessing. We call it “llama lessons.” We take llama lessons every other week. It’s an hour away on the cutest hobby farm. Our “teacher” is Flora, who boards her llamas at the alpaca farm. She wants to teach...

Keep Reading