It’s 3 o’clock in the afternoon and I’ve hit a wall. I’ve done an eight hour radio shift, almost two hours of commuting and my toddler is running me ragged.
During the last hour I’ve already become victim to at least four violent, stormy tantrums. The Terrible Twos are taking their toll.
Having sought some cool in the kitchen I move myself and my angry 23 month old into the garden. She is hot and bothered. Grumpy.
But she spies her second favourite thing in the world. Her hat. And I bask in the radiance of her smile, snapping the moment on my phone to remind myself of this happiness when the next tantrum arrives.
The storm clouds gather yet again. A wave of darkness passes across my daughter’s face. She angrily bats away suggestion of playing in the sandpit.
The day is narrowly saved by paint, grass and sunshine.
Tantrum averted. Phew.
***
This is my offering to this week’s Gallery, where the theme is “Sunshine”. Head over to Sticky Fingers to see the rest.
Grandma from the North says
Think you have a new art form here! baby body painting! XX
Mammasaurus says
Painty, sunny and fun – just what summer should be about.
Well that and Pimms…obvs
Mari says
Gorgeous photos! Love that painting one, we had similar this week and the walk from the garden to the bathroom to wash hands, legs etc in my house was ‘DON”T touch anything’ 😉
Kate On Thin Ice says
Love that last shot.
Like your writing too, telling the story.
A child that likes hats, wonderful. Mine don’t.
Molly says
It’s not always a great thing – especially when she wants to have a bath while still wearing her woolly hat.
Only Best For Baby says
Wonderful photos, inspiring methods of distraction! Well done 🙂
Molly says
Thank you – at least the mess was kept outdoors.
Jenn says
LOVE the second picture – what we do to survive the tantrums and not end up as raving drunks by the time they turn 5…erm…8…erm…yeah.
Molly says
I hear you! x
emma @mummymummymum says
Lovely Molly. Painted legs are the way forward!
Molly says
It’s a good look, I agree. *Lies*
mymummylife says
Oh. My. Goodness. That paint pic chills my bones. That sort of thing is *definitely* best left for nursery. Mind you, I guess no clothes were ruined in the taking of that picture…
Molly says
This is true. It’s a definite plus of the sunshine. And the bonus is, she’s so small she can just sit in a washing up bowl full of water to clean up afterwards.
Mummylimited says
I really don’t know how you do it and stay so calm too. Great photos. I love the paint one
Molly says
Calm isn’t the word I’d use – inside I’m a stressed out mess!
helloitsgemma says
you are a very good mummy – there is no way I could tolerate that amount of paint.
Molly says
It was that or another tantrum. I hate the tantrums!
Nikki Thomas says
That is a fabulous hat! And the second picture made me laugh – the lengths you go to to keep them happy! I have a two year old diva who has the mother of all tantrums so I can sympathise!
Molly says
It’s like walking on constant egg shells, waiting for the next tantrum to surface!
Emily (@amummytoo) says
Cute!!
Molly says
Ah thank you, I’m blushing… what? You didn’t mean me?! x
Kelly says
Beautiful pics! Not just me having the tantrums then , phew. Sheesh, they are wearing hey?! Good tactic tho, distraction all the way!