The Terrible Twos Aren't So Terrible

Throughout life there’s a familiar chorus that is echoed at extended family functions.

“When are you bringing a girl around?”

“Wow, how did you convince her to come around? So when are you getting married?”

“When are you having kids?”

“You think it’s hard now when they aren’t sleeping, just wait until they’re two.”

Extended family members are quick to share the perils that lie ahead, especially when it involves children. After all, they’ve been through it. They know better, right? The problem is they overlook all of the positives in-between. Today my first-born son, Duke, turns three. After successfully surviving the “Terrible Twos,” I can’t help but wonder, “Who ever thought this was terrible?”

Parenting is an active learning experience. As soon as you figure it out, kids change and you’re right back to square one. Learning how to adapt with your kids as they grow is a constant challenge, albeit the most rewarding one of my life.

Over the last year my son has thrown temper tantrums. There have been times where I wondered if I would make it to my 7 am radio show in time because, heaven forbid, I picked out the wrong cereal bar. I’ve slept in an uncomfortable twin bed more nights than I can count. I have also seen the mundane tasks in life seemingly transform into miracles.

A year ago we chuckled as he babbled through words. During his first haircut I wondered if there were enough Dum-Dums in the barber shop to keep him still for 20 minutes. Little did I know, those were just brief growing pains, preparing me for the ultimate payout. During the Terrible Twos my son learned how to use a potty, ride a bicycle and swing a golf club, better than Dad, as a matter of fact.

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Parents make sacrifices for their children. At times, it’s painstaking, however, it’s being paid forward. Sometimes I am at a loss with his 5-month-old younger brother, but Duke is there to help, providing some comfort and a smile to soothe his little look-alike. A year ago he was the baby that I didn’t always have a quick answer to fix the problem. Now he’s helping me fix the problems.

It’s difficult to describe the pride I’m filled with every time I watch my son learn something new. It’s a phenomenon unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. “How did you know that?” has become a familiar feeling, because Lord knows I didn’t teach him what an excavator is.

The Terrible Twos were filled with little, mundane moments that may seem terrible from the outside, but were some of the most rewarding moments of my life.

Everybody loves to elicit unwanted parenting advice. Not all of it’s good. For young parents out there, trust me, the Terrible Twos aren’t so terrible at all.