My son turns two in August. He’s been exhibiting a lot of behavior that falls squarely into the “terrible twos” category since about 17/18 months. I’ve been told this is normal. I’ve been told it gets better at two, then bad again at three. I’ve been told “just wait until two.” Whatever the answer, I’m hoping it either ends soon or I’m granted about 500 more patience points by the divine.

 Seemingly overnight, my son transformed from a kid we could take anywhere—WOULD take anywhere thanks to his perfect restaurant behavior—into a child that can’t handle sitting in a shopping cart for five minutes while in Target because all he wants to do is squirm and run around and knock things over.

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Recently, I heard a story in the news and was pretty torn. It was story of how a mother in New York ordered her bickering 10 and 12 year old girls out of the car and drove away. Here’s the story in case you missed it. Apparently, Madlyn Primoff left her girls on the side of the road, returned some time later and reported them missing when they weren’t where she left them. A Good Samaritan had seen the girls on the side of the road and brought them to the police station.

Madlyn has been charged with a crime and isn’t able to see her daughters anymore.

I’m torn because this case definitely isn’t black and white for me. I mean, who didn’t hear the threat of “If you don’t stop fighting, I’ll pull this car over and…” But, c’mon–we all knew it was an empty threat. But, who hasn’t gotten so annoyed and worn down by their kid that they’re tempted to leave them on the side of the road and drive away. Of course, there’s no way I could actually DO it, but I’d sure as hell be tempted. And the kids aren’t little–they’re 10 and 12. Definitely old enough to understand punishment and consequence.

I think this just brings to light a larger issue that parenting is HARD. It’s frustrating and thankless and will make you question nearly every decision. But, thankfully, for me, is 100% worth it.

But I’m interested in what everyone else thinks. What’s your opinion on this situation?

Sometimes I think my husband and I are the town curmudgeons. Other parents seem to find a way to excuse or reconcile the wild antics of undisciplined children — we don’t. I don’t think it’s cute, appropriate or excusable.

A few weeks ago, we went to a school talent show and there was a 2 or 3 year old who proceeded to crawl around under the benches like a rabid squirrel on pop rocks and soda. It was so distracting that I asked a few times out loud, “Whose child is that?”, to no avail, and you wanna know what the other parent’s reaction was, as opposed to my annoyed (won’t someone spank her butt and take her outside?) reaction was?? It was met with smiles and giggles and, “Oh, isn’t she precious?”

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Guess what? It’s winter! In fact, the windchill in Chicago today was -20 when I woke up. And it isn’t going to get much better until, oh, APRIL.

Which, in addition frostbite, snow and ice, means that my husband and I are trapped inside on weekends like caged animals. Gone are the leisurely trips to the park, strolling around the zoo and long walks around our neighborhood. We’ve already started to go a little stir-crazy trying to occupy our toddler with indoor activities.

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Ah, Patrick Swayze. *dreamy sigh* Who among us 30-something women didn’t dream of visiting a resort in the Catskills with our straightlaced parents and secretly learning to dirty dance with the local bad boy while the “squares” were in the pavilion learning the cha cha? Well, I’m officially old, because Patrick’s, like, so yesterday. My new crush is on High School Principal Jason Perrins. 

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