This yellow shirt tells you where my family is right now. We are in Toddler Boot Camp. Notice I didn’t say JDaniel was in Toddler Boot Camp. My husband and I are going through Boot Camp too. When you think about boot camp or at least when I do I think of the drill sergeant in an Officer and a Gentleman yelling at the new recruits. At my house, there isn’t a person in authority yelling at a toddler. We do at times have a toddler yelling, stamping his feet, and waving his arms at us. This doesn’t occur all the time. It does seem to happen when we are leaving someplace fun to return home, he is denied two snacks, and at random times as if for no reason like daddy walks in the door and he believes he has gotten mom where he wants her.
I start each day by putting on my drill instructor uniform of shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers aka as running shoes. I have to be able to run to keep up with the young one. JDaniel wears a similar uniform in a smaller size. He has to change his several times a day. Most of the time due to a spill or stain gained in the mess hall.
As in any boot camp exercises and lessons have to be taught over and over again with consistency. We need to work on praising his achievements and relearning skills not yet mastered. It is hard to watch him crawl through the mud and try to scale walls over and over again. (Figuratively. He would love to do it literally.) It is hard not to laugh at some of the antics that are funny but will cause him trouble. Like many boot camp instructors, my husband and I have to laugh at the events of the day after taps.
We truly love him and are trying to guide him through love. Lately, there are days that it feels like Boot Camp at our house.
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I sure felt like potty training was boot camp!
We aren’t parents, but my good friend has her almost 2 year old grandson here for a week. Three more days!
I think she is feeling a bit stressed. LOL
~ Sarah
Mine just turned 3 and yes – I am going through boot camp too!
I never thought of it this way but your right. Raising a child can seem like boot camp, ha. Clever yellow post.
Well my boys are 13 and 9, and the answer is YES….I would like to tell you in at ends soon, but I think not til they are off to college…then does it even end? We are parents…that is our job!!~ Cute post, well written too.
Oh yes! At two our pumpkin is trying all the tricks now to get what she wants. And some are pretty funny, but like you I try to hide my amusement till later!
Oh they are all so funny and so trying. These are memories that you will always remember. They grow so fast, try to savor every minute. Hugs, Marty
I didn’t know it was called boot camp but I have been a drill instructor for about 20 years, my youngest recruit is upstairs right now learning a tough lesson – she has to sleep in her own bed, the big kids don’t want her in theirs.
I loved this post!
Ohhhhh we are so going through that at my house too! With a 3 year old and a 2 year old, we often have to go through the same drills twice over!!
It can’t possibly last forever can it?
My boys are way older than JDaniel and I still have Boot Camp Days. Guess it just goes with the territory.
Stopping by from SITS.
I admire your efforts! They will pay off. I went through the real boot camp back in 1977 and all I can say is “Oy…”
With a 3 yr old and an 18 mth old… there are many days that I feel like that! 🙂 I just try to make myself stop and appreciate all the new things they are doing and learning – even if it is my 3 yr old wanting to pour his own milk out of a full gallon and getting frustrated because its too heavy! I know it gets better since I also have a 12 year old… well – then you just have a whole nother set of issues (like needing hundreds of dollars for back to school clothes)!!
Hang in there! 🙂
haha! You are so right, JD is not in boot camp, you are! LOL! Becoming a parent is a never ending process. Oh, I remember those early days well and how physically and emotionally demanding they can be! Hang in there you seem to be doing great. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well either, hope you both feel well soon!
Hi again,
Such a clever yellow post! Echo previous comment: Hang in there!
Happy AlphabeThursday
LOLA:)
PS Mine this week is OVER HERE! Hope you can stop by.
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Awww yes, been there, done that…and you DO survive 🙂
Fun YELLOW post.
Hang in there! You still have a long road to go, but your positive and loving “boot camp” will help greatly.
Thanks for stopping by!
I’m in retired military mode, but remember boot camp well. I also spend some time there myself when I babysit my sweet little grandchildren!
This is the first time I’ve ever heard of toddler boot camp. Sounds like we might need to go through that soon with E too. Must look up more about this boot camp First 🙂
I’ll have to tell my daughter-in-law that she’s really in toddler boot camp – with an 18 month old and a nearly-three-year-old I usually tell her that she’s in the trenches of raising children – but I like idea of boot camp!
This was such a good post! It really does feel like toddler boot camp many days, doesn’t it? My grandson is growing more independent every day as he reaches two years old but it is not without some struggles on both ends. Hang in there!
we have a one and 4 year old. constantly in boot camp. LOL.
How well I remember those Boot Camp days. Cute post!
=)
Don’t you eyeball me boy! Hahaha. I had too. My son has graduated from boot camp and is in the army now…kindergarten. 🙁 My baby. I love your analogy. Great post.
Yes, I’m familiar with boot camp!! To describe all the adjectives that describe it would make me sound schizophrenic. Adjectives like exhausting, fun, exciting, tiring, etc. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog!
actually, i would say no. i don’t know that we ever had to get that tough with either girl. but that’s not to say that it isn’t coming.
I loved boot camp as metaphor for parenting. Perfect.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, and for your thoughtful comment about my sister! I feel so blessed that she is here and healthy. What an amazing miracle she is!
Blessings to you! 🙂
HAHAHA You are funny! Yes, we all go through this when small. They are little terrors but grow up so fast! Thank you for visiting 🙂
Hugs
Frenchy
What’s toddler bootcamp?
LOL… I love this theory. I was just trying hard not to laugh at my sweet 17 month old daughter hitting her brother. It was too funny, the look on her face when she was hitting him.
My daughter has to read this! Her last twitter read, “Free to a good home” and she was talking about my 3.5 year old grandson! She also has a 10 month old baby girl so her days are very exhausting.
haha love your yellow “Boot camp” t shirt! My kiddies are all grown, so I can’t wait til grandbabies start rolling in! Looking forward to having another round of “toddler boot camp” days at our home :o)
Little ones are such fun to listen to also! Ya never know what they are going to say!
Blessings & Aloha!
thank you for stopping by my post!
Well, raising kids is like boot camp. I think it is God’s boot camp for adults. Nothing will bring you to your knees like having children. When my last daughter went off to college, I thought how mature I had become because I never seem to lose my temper any more. Then one summer 10 year old nephew came to stay with me. After a week, I was so frustrated and lost it one night. I called one of my daughters and said…you remember how I said how calm I had become…well, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE NO KIDS AT HOME….haha. I pray that your kids are as much a blessing after you get them through bootcamp as mine are and I pray they rise up and call you blessed. Yes….that really happens!
what a humours post … we have graduated boot camp … its all learning to be an adult over here …
What a charming, charming link to Alphabe-Thursday’s Rainbow Summer School.
Ahhh….boot camp. I still feel like I am experiencing it many days…sometimes with Grands, sometimes with weiner dogs, and sometimes with grown kids!
You are have amazing energy and humor. I think JDaniel is going to have an amazing life.
Your guidance is an inspiration to young mothers everywhere who want to just give up!
Thank you for linking this cute and thought-provoking post!
A+
Am I ever. Funny.
lol, that was funny!!!!
with the hubby, i am sure we will be doing boot camp soon! ha ha