Comment from Taffspride

Excellent

Such a cute poem, oh the terrible twos, a time that all new mothers and would be mothers dread. I was certain my child would be the exception to the rule. Ha, was I proved naive.

Reading this delightful work had brought it all back to me. But then when you creep into their room at night, and they are tucked up in bed, you realize that you would not be without them, tantrums and all.

Thanks for the memories Brooke

Iechyd da

Ann

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Ann, thank you so much. My daughter has been a nanny for over ten years, and she is a fantastic one. When she finally let Sawyer have yogurt and watermelon for dinner on the sixth night of his holding out, she knew her giving in went against everything she has taught and practiced all these years, but it was apparent the child was just never going to give in. :-) Brooke

Comment from Liandra

Exceptional

I enjoyed this poem and you write so well. Your words flow as you tell the story which relates to all 2year olds and Mums. Yes, they always win - those gorgeous, lovable two year olds.

Thanks for sharing,

Liandra

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Liandra, thank you so much for your gracious and generous response to this poem :-) Brooke

reply by Liandra on 07-Mar-2014

You're very welcome, Brooke.

:)Liandra

Comment from tony bronk

Excellent

Ahhh The terrible two's. What a frightful, exhausting age for the caretakers, whom ever they may be. You did a very good job of capturing the psychology of Sawyer at his tender age. Isn't it much easier writing about it, then being his caretaker? Excellent write.

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Tony, thank you - and yes, so much easier. That is the beauty of being a grandparent - my children were adorable, but I was also in charge of them, so there was more balance of good and bad. With Sawyer, no matter what he does that is naughty, I'm able to laugh about it while my daughter is left cleaning up the mess LOL :-) Brooke

Comment from Enrique28

Exceptional

A most amusing poetic depiction of a common occurrence. The little child is testing his mother to see what he can get away with.

but when he flung it at the cat,
his mother cried, "No more!

I like that!

Excellent presentation! Enrique

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Enrique, thank you so very much, my generous friend :-) Brooke

Comment from Saucey

Excellent

LOL ahhh the terrible twos, what an amazing time for the parents. I love the simplicity of this piece, flowing like butter, nice rhyming. You always bring it. "his mother cried, "no more!" sounds good and authoritative when we said it, right!!! lol

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Saucey, thank you so much :-) Brooke

Comment from closetpoetjester

Excellent

LOL Sounds like they should have named him "Brat" and on the contrary I believe you must be prepared to win EVERY battle rather than just picking the odd one to win with a two year old. Our little girl was a fiesty little two year old who liked to throw a tanty or four...but our will was just as strong and eventually prevailed. The key to the obstinate ones is WIN at all costs. As soon as they know they have you by the short and curlies...the jig is up baby! LOL
Our little girl is now a delightful 5 year old, still trying to assert her authority and defying when she hasn't got control of the situation but the best thing we did was find her currency (pretty skirts, dresses and bling) and then swiftly threaten to remove it. We give her two options, she gets to choose one or we simply choose it for her. A stint in the naughty corner also is good back up on occasions but I think it is the same with any kid...make rules and boundaries and rule with an iron fist. It's not guaranteed, but it's pretty close to as good as it gets. At least from where I'm standing.
Nicely rhymed and told Brooke and good luck with the brat although I'm sure he gets around Grandma real easy! LOL
Cheers P
x

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Thanks so much, Phillipa. For a decade Miranda has complained loudly about the parents she works for as a nanny and how they give in and go back on rules, and she does remarkable work with kids getting them to behave right and follow schedules, etc by sticking to her guns and letting them know when no is no. But Sawyer is just being so stubborn about what he'll eat. For five nights she sent him to bed with only his bottle. On the sixth night she finally let him have yogurt and watermelon for dinner followed by his beloved cheese and crackers because she could tell he was just not going to eat dinner. LOL At 22 months they really don't get the whole naughty chair thing. And as much as he wanted his currency, snack food, he chose to go to bed without them instead of eating some dinner first. I just know how remarkably good she is at nannying and the miraculous successes she has had, so I am totally trusting her judgement on this one :-) Brooke

reply by closetpoetjester on 06-Mar-2014

LOL
Yep, around 3 they reckon, for the naughty corner and to be honest, I was surprised my little upstart actually stayed there.
I didn't realise your girl was a nanny but she sounds like she has her head screwed on right.
We are STILL having trouble with Jackson eating vegges etc and it seems no matter how much of an angel a kid is in most areas there is at least one you have to work on. The dinner thing CAN be testing...we've tried EVERYthing. And we are STILL finding it tough. He's better than he was but missy is playing up at present and tells us "I don't like that" or "that is burnt"...it ain't burnt at all...it's golden brown FFS. They ARE little darlings though and we must look at it from their pov sometimes I guess. I've had to eat stuff that made me gag and although I didn't refuse to eat it for fear of a belting, it DID take me an hour to get through a pile of friggin peas I couldn't jump over. LOL
I think in this day and age with all the stimulations surrounding younguns you've done well just to get them to turn up and SIT at the dinner table. We never had disjointed mealtimes when I was a kid...we all sat down together and there was NO tv. My how things have changed. Thanks for your great response Brooke and I'm quite sure you don't put up with too much flak from the little man! LOL

One last thing...on talking to someone recently they said that moment where its all crumbling and you are about to give in and give him yoghurt and watermelon instead of what he should have eaten...well that is the moment you need to hold your ground.
This reminds me of some choice advice my sister in law told me when I was trying to toilet train little man and he kept pooping in his jocks and not telling me he wanted to go. He knew he wanted to and would often go behind a chair so we couldn't see him. She told me to tell him I was going to leave him in them if he didn't say he wanted to go to the toilet. She said he will soon tire of crappy jocks...she said he wouldn't last 3 days. Well it actually took six but it damn well worked...I also told him I was throwing out every pair as he crapped them and soon he would be down to no jocks as he only had 12 pairs and then people were going to point and laugh because he had no pants on. Like I said, by day six, the little darling FINALLY came to the door and said "Mum, I need a poo"...Hooray...the Breakthrough.
Good old persistance pays. As soon as you relent in anyway, they have your number. I suggest you tell Miranda that by oh, say day 8 he might have come round. I know its hard though, I've relented at times I shouldn't have and its well and truly bitten me on the butt. The best advice I get is whatever discipline or rules you have, be consistant...then the kid knows exactly whats coming. Shirk out of that and you have a real mess on your hands and a two year old dictator! LMAO
Hugs P
x

Comment from JMRoland

Excellent

Hi Brooke,

This clever and engaging series of quatrains is well-rhymed, and draws a humorous picture of the imperious boundary-testing of two-year old autocracy. So funny. The photo is a hoot. Well done.

JMR

P.S. I came on here after a dry spell and am shocked by mention of Alvin's passing. What in the world happened to him? I am so sorry we have lost such a gifted poet.

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

JM, thank you so much. I don't know the cause of Al's death, but do know he has had major health issues for quite a long time. His death came as a shock even to those who knew his health was shaky.
Brooke

Comment from Janet Foor

Exceptional

This is adorable Brooke and I can relate to Miranda's dilemma. The terrible twos are definitely a challenge to any parent. This is delightful and will bring a smile to every parent and grandparent.

blessings
Janet

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Janet, thank you so much for your generous sixth star and for your thoughtful review :-) Brooke

Comment from rod007

Excellent

Yeah, you got it well. I remember a time when my son was six and he kicked me in my groin (balls-I am being polite!)not really meaning any harm. I screamed in pain, but I could do nothing to him as he was such a lovely little boy. Well done, Brooke.

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

rod, thanks for the laugh and the review - I think we've all been in that position where we can't really throttle the adorable little toddler :-) Brooke

Comment from Emeka13

Excellent

This is a funny (I would imagine spontaneous)one here on one of Sawyer's antics. His face says it all. I suppose Alexander the Great would always win when it comes to eating. There is not a lot the parent can do - can't force feed them, can't achieve much by standing your ground. That is why I agree with your ending - just because it has to do with eating. In all other things, I believe that even when they are two, the parent should draw the boundary and the earlier the better.Thanks for a very enjoyable write. Emeka

 Comment Written 06-Mar-2014

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reply by the author on 06-Mar-2014

Emeka, I agree, and my daughter, a professional nanny, is a stickler for the rules. She works wonders with kids, getting them to follow schedules and behave in ways that their parents can't achieve because the parents give in. She is learning, however, that when her own stubborn and willful child won't eat, he won't eat. LOL. Thanks so much :-) Brooke