Dr. Corbin and Mr. Hyde
by Daddy
Over the last couple of months Corbin has been like two different kids. Sometimes, he is the sweetest, most polite 2-year-old you could imagine. Other times (seemingly the majority of the time) he is the epitome of willful disobedience and defiance. Since we don't give in to his tantrums, we're at a loss as to why he keeps throwing them so often and for so long. Shouldn't he have learned by now that it doesn't work? He's gotten lots of spankings and time-outs recently.
But today he was almost the perfect child (aside from waking up the first time at 6:30 on a weekend). He helped me make scrambled eggs like we do every Saturday. Then he quietly looked at his Valentine cards while I cleaned the breakfast dishes. Then we did puzzles and popped bubble-wrap (a new discovery!) until it was time to get Mommy up at 9:00. The rest of the morning he alternated between playing with Mommy and/or Daddy or by himself. He ate lunch well, then took his nap without a fuss.
After he woke up, we went to the zoo while Mommy went to the seminary library. He had lots of fun looking at all the different types of snakes, lizards, and turtles. When we went to the Texas animals exhibit, he laughed at the chickens, tried to pet a calf, tried to pet a pig (and avoided getting splashed by the urine), then finally got to pet a soft goat. Corbin let me take his picture on the stagecoach and in front of a huge alligator. Then he spent a long time looking at the coyotes, mountain lions, and jaguar. When it was time to go, we got on the train with only a little fear, then found Mommy's car waiting for us in the parking lot.
We ate dinner at a restaurant, and Corbin was very polite--telling the waitress thank you for bringing his high chair and ordering his own food. He flirted with a little girl at the next table, then made up a song about the yellow train at the zoo. Even though we got home late, he didn't fuss that his bath time was shortened or that he didn't get a story. We brushed his teeth, prayed, then went to bed without protest.
It's so rare that we get to see the good Corbin for a whole day. When we do, it makes me think that maybe we're not doing it all wrong, maybe he'll turn out alright. You never know what tomorrow may bring--especially when there's a two year old in your life.
Over the last couple of months Corbin has been like two different kids. Sometimes, he is the sweetest, most polite 2-year-old you could imagine. Other times (seemingly the majority of the time) he is the epitome of willful disobedience and defiance. Since we don't give in to his tantrums, we're at a loss as to why he keeps throwing them so often and for so long. Shouldn't he have learned by now that it doesn't work? He's gotten lots of spankings and time-outs recently.
But today he was almost the perfect child (aside from waking up the first time at 6:30 on a weekend). He helped me make scrambled eggs like we do every Saturday. Then he quietly looked at his Valentine cards while I cleaned the breakfast dishes. Then we did puzzles and popped bubble-wrap (a new discovery!) until it was time to get Mommy up at 9:00. The rest of the morning he alternated between playing with Mommy and/or Daddy or by himself. He ate lunch well, then took his nap without a fuss.
After he woke up, we went to the zoo while Mommy went to the seminary library. He had lots of fun looking at all the different types of snakes, lizards, and turtles. When we went to the Texas animals exhibit, he laughed at the chickens, tried to pet a calf, tried to pet a pig (and avoided getting splashed by the urine), then finally got to pet a soft goat. Corbin let me take his picture on the stagecoach and in front of a huge alligator. Then he spent a long time looking at the coyotes, mountain lions, and jaguar. When it was time to go, we got on the train with only a little fear, then found Mommy's car waiting for us in the parking lot.
We ate dinner at a restaurant, and Corbin was very polite--telling the waitress thank you for bringing his high chair and ordering his own food. He flirted with a little girl at the next table, then made up a song about the yellow train at the zoo. Even though we got home late, he didn't fuss that his bath time was shortened or that he didn't get a story. We brushed his teeth, prayed, then went to bed without protest.
It's so rare that we get to see the good Corbin for a whole day. When we do, it makes me think that maybe we're not doing it all wrong, maybe he'll turn out alright. You never know what tomorrow may bring--especially when there's a two year old in your life.
posted by Daddy at
2/17/2007 06:11:00 PM
