Maxwell. Oh Maxwell. This child is constantly testing his boundaries and my patience. While on vacation, he reached the highest end of both.
He has started throwing fits. Now, Payton threw "fits". Just a scream and a kick. Maybe even falling on the ground. But now, I realize, that was nothing. Just a testing of the moment and it would pass.
Max's fits start out small. Just a screaming noise. Then it progresses to throwing himself on the ground. Followed by beating his fists into the floor and kicking his feet. During all this, the screaming continues and even increases in volume and intensity sometimes. They usually end if he's ignored and no one's laughing (grandparents!!).
One day, while relaxing on the beach, for a reason I don't remember, Maxwell threw a fit. His "best" yet. It didn't stop with being ignored. He realized that he had an audience in the sand around him. He crawled his way down the beach shore towards to ocean with each movement screaming "Ow!!!" at the top of his lungs. I'm not sure if our neighbors thought he was in pain and I was a bad mom, or if he was just crazy. Turns out, he's just crazy.
I've talked to a few friends and family members about this event. It's funny now (and it was kind of funny then), but I'm not sure what to do about it. The things that worked with Payton surely do NOT cut it with Maxwell. I used to think that wild children were the product of lazy or bad parenting in some cases. I can assure you that is NOT the case with Maxwell.
I'm afraid, literally terrified, that I've exhausted my options and he's not even 18 months. You can tell him "no" 1,000 times and he'll do it anyway. You can take him away for something and divert his attention, but within minutes, it's back to the thing you just took him away from (namely the stove). We've started putting him in "time outs" in his crib at the suggestion of his pediatrician, but that does nothing but make him scream and get more mad at us.
On the way home from vacation, with him screaming for no reason in the backseat, I had the realization that the ages 2 and 3 were much harder with Payton than 1. I cried thinking about what the next 2 years of raising Maxwell will be like. I've been praying for months that God grant me the patience and understanding to deal with him. I just hope he does it before Maxwell's antics put me in a padded room.
Wednesday, July 16
Tuesday, July 15
Vacation Summary
Every year, my parents, my inlaws, and my family of four travel to North Carolina where we rent this house on the island. We're only across the street from the boardwalk to the beach and it's just perfect for our family. My brother and his wife come down from Delaware mid week and stay through Saturday when we all begin our journey home.
This year, when we arrived, we found a surprise! My father-in-law had been in contact with Matt's younger brother who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He'd made the almost 7 hour drive with his girlfriend, Karolina, to see us. We haven't seen him since Christmas, and we'd never met Karolina, although we'd heard a lot about her. It was really a great visit and I'm glad they made the trip.
The rest of the week went like this:
8:30am breakfast
9:30am beach
noonish lunch on the beach
3-4pm back to the house, shower
6pm dinner
then games, read or walk the beach
That was typical really. I read three great books on vacation. Matt played a lot of video games on his PSP. Payton and Maxwell are naturals at the ocean and did really well.
Payton went on a pirate tour that I talked about before. They arrived on an island and there was a "pirate" there who gave them a map and Payton had to follow the clues to find the treasure. When they arrived at the X, they had to dig up the treasure that was buried for him; coins, a pouch, necklaces, and more fun kids stuff. He had a great time. I forgot to send the camera with Matt though, so I don't have any pictures.
Payton also did really well in the ocean. With his life jacket, he learned to ride the waves into shore. He spent a lot of time jumping the waves as they crashed and also just sitting in them and letting them bowl him over.
Maxwell's best beach story is of a fit he threw...but I'll save this discussion for another day. It deserves it's own entry. My highlight was falling down the front stair case with two beers in my hands, but not yet drinking anything. I bruised my back and my leg, got a bad case of stairburn but I managed to save the beers!
We had a great time with family. Eating, playing games, shopping and of course a few beers here and there. I look forward to this time on the beach all year long and I can't wait until it happens again. There is talk of going for two weeks next year. I hope we can really do it!
This year, when we arrived, we found a surprise! My father-in-law had been in contact with Matt's younger brother who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He'd made the almost 7 hour drive with his girlfriend, Karolina, to see us. We haven't seen him since Christmas, and we'd never met Karolina, although we'd heard a lot about her. It was really a great visit and I'm glad they made the trip.
The rest of the week went like this:
8:30am breakfast
9:30am beach
noonish lunch on the beach
3-4pm back to the house, shower
6pm dinner
then games, read or walk the beach
That was typical really. I read three great books on vacation. Matt played a lot of video games on his PSP. Payton and Maxwell are naturals at the ocean and did really well.
Payton went on a pirate tour that I talked about before. They arrived on an island and there was a "pirate" there who gave them a map and Payton had to follow the clues to find the treasure. When they arrived at the X, they had to dig up the treasure that was buried for him; coins, a pouch, necklaces, and more fun kids stuff. He had a great time. I forgot to send the camera with Matt though, so I don't have any pictures.
Payton also did really well in the ocean. With his life jacket, he learned to ride the waves into shore. He spent a lot of time jumping the waves as they crashed and also just sitting in them and letting them bowl him over.
Maxwell's best beach story is of a fit he threw...but I'll save this discussion for another day. It deserves it's own entry. My highlight was falling down the front stair case with two beers in my hands, but not yet drinking anything. I bruised my back and my leg, got a bad case of stairburn but I managed to save the beers!
We had a great time with family. Eating, playing games, shopping and of course a few beers here and there. I look forward to this time on the beach all year long and I can't wait until it happens again. There is talk of going for two weeks next year. I hope we can really do it!
Monday, July 14
Vacation 2008: Pictures and Videos
My Mom and Maxwell yelling at each other
My mom and my oldest brother, Loren
Matt & me...the only picture of me on our camera. :(
Matt and Payton
Payton challenging the ocean
The boys (with our group in the background)
Silly Maxwell
Max and his tongue
Payton and a few new friends
Matt
Our section of beach
Our boardwalk
The boys(Tiffany, recognize that outfit on Max?)
Matt and Max on a night walk
Silly Max...again
I recorded 45 seconds of the ocean just for you guys.
And because everyone needs to see this; Maxwell's Beach Dance
We're home!!!
After a long trip home, involving a ugly stay at an Days Inn in West Virginia, we rolled into our house last night around 6pm.
It's been a wonderful vacation with lots of sunburn, sandburn, bruises and thunderstorms, but I would go back in a heartbeat! It never fails that I cry like a baby when we leave the beach each year. I'm sure the first time, my inlaws thought I was crazy. But now everyone knows that Ellisa has to visit the beach and have a good cry before we can get on the road. Someday I'll live on the coast. Someday...
Until then I have pictures! Some great ones too!! I'll be posting them in another post here in a bit. And I'll update on vacation, the boys and everything else throughout the week. Enjoy the pics!!
It's been a wonderful vacation with lots of sunburn, sandburn, bruises and thunderstorms, but I would go back in a heartbeat! It never fails that I cry like a baby when we leave the beach each year. I'm sure the first time, my inlaws thought I was crazy. But now everyone knows that Ellisa has to visit the beach and have a good cry before we can get on the road. Someday I'll live on the coast. Someday...
Until then I have pictures! Some great ones too!! I'll be posting them in another post here in a bit. And I'll update on vacation, the boys and everything else throughout the week. Enjoy the pics!!
Wednesday, July 9
On Vacation
My father decided to point out that this week, there have been no updates on our vacation. So I'm taking five minutes before heading out to the beach to let you all know that we are alive and well in North Carolina.
I guess "well" applies to everyone but me. I got a serious burn on Sunday that is still very sensitive, but I'm not letting that stop me from enjoying the beach. I've just worn my t-shirt and board shorts over my suit each day.
The boys are really enjoying the beach too. Payton has really grown in the last year and is much more confident in his swimming and beach activities. Maxwell is warming to the waves, but still runs off if they come too near his little toes. Matt hasn't spent too much time at the beach, but is enjoying the peace and quiet of Topsail Island and not having to work!
Today, Payton and Matt are out with my father, my brother and my sister-in-law are out on a ferry ride to collect shells and do a "pirate tour" about the shipwrecks around the Outerbanks.
I hope you're all having a great week! I may update this once more while we're here. And I'll be sure to post the "best of vacation" pictures when we get home early next week.
Sending you sun & sand....
I guess "well" applies to everyone but me. I got a serious burn on Sunday that is still very sensitive, but I'm not letting that stop me from enjoying the beach. I've just worn my t-shirt and board shorts over my suit each day.
The boys are really enjoying the beach too. Payton has really grown in the last year and is much more confident in his swimming and beach activities. Maxwell is warming to the waves, but still runs off if they come too near his little toes. Matt hasn't spent too much time at the beach, but is enjoying the peace and quiet of Topsail Island and not having to work!
Today, Payton and Matt are out with my father, my brother and my sister-in-law are out on a ferry ride to collect shells and do a "pirate tour" about the shipwrecks around the Outerbanks.
I hope you're all having a great week! I may update this once more while we're here. And I'll be sure to post the "best of vacation" pictures when we get home early next week.
Sending you sun & sand....
Tuesday, July 1
"It's the end of the world as we know it..."
"It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it."
But ya know, I don't feel fine. Tiffany got her first real lawyer job. She got the official stuff today and she starts the 14th. Yes, I'm THRILLED for her. Of course I want the best for her and her family.
But I'm sad. I'm not sure why really even. I mean, we only talk to each other's voicemail every few days and we try to connect once a week. We don't even get a lot of time together anymore it seems. So I should be just fine with this right? I mean, it's not like a whole lot will change.
So why am I so sad? Maybe because she will be unreachable during the day when we normally talk. Maybe because what little time we do have together tends to be planned on the fly and also during the day or early evening hours.
I feel like part of her will be gone from me. Gosh, that sounds selfish and like our friendship is ending. I know it's not and that we will both continue to make every effort to get together when our schedules allow.
I just hope it's more often than not. Maybe we should set up a bi-weekly date. LOL Like married couples who work opposite hours.
(Yes, I'm sadhopping. Deal with it.)
It's the end of the world as we know it."
But ya know, I don't feel fine. Tiffany got her first real lawyer job. She got the official stuff today and she starts the 14th. Yes, I'm THRILLED for her. Of course I want the best for her and her family.
But I'm sad. I'm not sure why really even. I mean, we only talk to each other's voicemail every few days and we try to connect once a week. We don't even get a lot of time together anymore it seems. So I should be just fine with this right? I mean, it's not like a whole lot will change.
So why am I so sad? Maybe because she will be unreachable during the day when we normally talk. Maybe because what little time we do have together tends to be planned on the fly and also during the day or early evening hours.
I feel like part of her will be gone from me. Gosh, that sounds selfish and like our friendship is ending. I know it's not and that we will both continue to make every effort to get together when our schedules allow.
I just hope it's more often than not. Maybe we should set up a bi-weekly date. LOL Like married couples who work opposite hours.
(Yes, I'm sadhopping. Deal with it.)
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