The Drivers

I’ve diagnosed myself with a psychiatric condition.  What better person to diagnose than a clinical psychologist and a person who is a clinical psychologist?  Okay, did that make any sense?  Though it’s not recognized in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual or approved by the American Psychological Association, it is a true condition that affects most people who live in the rainy region of the United States. 

Hello, my name is Mina and I have RAD, Rain Affected Disorder. 

Symptoms- Experiencing too much Rain. 

Prevalence- 1:1 (100%) of Californians who move to the Pacific Northwest.  There are no gender differences.

Treatment- Take at least 2 vacations during the fall and winter. The 2 vacations must consist of sunny and warm climate.  Tomorrow, I head to the Bay Area for a conference.  Perhaps I can soak up some sunshine while there!

Miss Lila bean is now 17 months old and life with Lila and Miles has been a challenge, but certainly a lot of fun.  When we see both kids playing and laughing with one another, we think having two kids back-to-back wasn’t so bad afterall. 

It’s weird to think that when Miles was 17 months old, we were bringing Lila home from the hospital.  At the time, Miles seemed so much like a big boy.  He was using 3-4 word sentences, he was very charming and determined, and he just seemed older.  It’s funny what your mind can tell you because Lila, at 17 months, still seems like a baby to us.  She has these pudgy cheeks, a buddha belly, and marshmallow arms.  Interestingly, Lila is not talking yet, but she is very clear about what she wants with her facial expressions and pointing.

Below is a picture of Miles meeting Lila at the hospital.  As you can see, Miles is not liking his new sister.

I don’t understand why parents make such a big deal out of the ”Terrible Two’s.”  I find it so special when my two year old decides to throw a temper tantrum in the middle of Target and then I become that mom that everyone is looking at.  I often get the sympathetic look from other moms like: I’ve been there, done that, hang in there mama.  I also get the ones like: Hey lady, get a hold of your kid!  In that situation, I wished that a little devil would jump out of Miles so that I could prove to others that indeed, I do have a devil child!  Or how about when he decides to take a bite out of his sister’s arm for no reason other than “She looked at me funny!”?  I especially love it when my son looks at me right in the eye and does the exact opposite of what I want him to do.

“Please do not pull the toilet paper off its roll!!!!”

Translation to a two year old:

“Yes, please pull all the toilet paper off its roll so that the entire bathroom is t-peed with tiny bits and pieces of toilet paper!” 

Sometimes Jason and I think WE are the crazy one!  How can anyone not go out of their mind with a roommate that defies everything you say, talks back, screams at your face, writes on the walls, pees on the floor, wakes up at 5am and expects you to play, but still gives you lots of wet, blubbery kisses.  The other night, Miles held my face and said, “Mama, you look so cute!”  My son fills my heart with so much love…and craziness.  I guess that’s why hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year on parenting and child-rearing books.  It’s to teach you to keep your cool, stay firm, don’t go postal on your child because this will all pass until they reach adolescents (that’s another story), and the cutest things they say will melt your heart and you’ll fall in love with your child all over again.

Look at this precious face!  Sometimes we feel like selling him to the zoo so that he can be with his own kind…where the wild things are…