My Daughter is a Puppy
Internet, I’ve figured it out. I think Bug is officially in her puppy stage. You know how puppies head-bump you and slobber all over you and generally make a nuisance of themselves? If they aren’t licking you in the face then they are biting your socks and chewing up your shoes…if you push them away they whine forlornly as if the end of the world is near? But if you hold them close they just want to scratch you and kick you and wrestle on the couch until you cry out for mercy. You know how they’re cute as can be but sometimes you just want to give them a swift kick in the butt and send them outside for an hour or two to get the wiggles out? That is Bug. She is driving me crazy.
She is just nutso lately. I’ve been trying to put my finger on what is wearing me down and I think it’s just that I’m tired of mothering a puppy. She won’t eat what I put before her. She won’t play quietly by herself. She always wants to be in my lap and in my way. She doesn’t cuddle. She attacks me. It’s non-stop puppy energy all day long. I can’t get anything done unless it involves her 100 percent and that means I’m getting nothing done besides tickling fights, play-dough messes, story times that last for hours and a whole lot of watching tv.
I’m surprised she looks so calm in these photos. What you can’t see is me wincing behind my camera, waiting for another onslaught of rapid-fire toddler moves. Kung Pow! Gotcha! I think I need to look into some more strenuous activities for her. Or maybe a dog run. (Just kidding!) All I can say is if this is what three is going to be like, I expect I will completely gray by February.
26 Comments
Susan
I think I know what you need- preschool! Not a full day away or anything but a 2-3 hours, twice a week program where she gets attention from someone other than you. Or maybe a day at doggy daycare with the other puppies! Too bad you don;t have a big backyard(fenced)to send her to- that was my solution for that!
margalit
Susan took the words right out of my mouth. That child needs friends. In preschool. With a teacher. And organized activities. That will tire her out.
I know they are expensive. But you can find a coop one pretty easily and with your talent, you could do a crafts hour weekly and get your hours in a flash.
Three year olds need friend and a social life. They kinda drive parents insane just so that you’ll send them off to play with kids their own age. She’s ready for interaction and her own little life. With scholarships and a coop, you can make it happen. And think: hours by YOURSELF!!!
comfortablycrazy
What the first two said.
It won’t hurt, to much, to at least look into it.
karen
Dog run. Totally.
Andrea
I just went through this stage with my daughter at the beginning of November. It was rough and made me question my sanity. I am a SAHM with a 9 month old too, so it’s hard to do much of anything with baby’s nap schedule, but I just started doing more cuddling and being calm around her and it seemed to help. It’s just a phase, thankfully. Since turning 3 at Thanksgiving, she’s been much better–and almost (almost) reasonable. Good luck!!
Lori
i *totally* used to describe jack as a puppy. until he was .. almost 4. :^P
Calee
Here are some local co-ops, I think it’s cheaper than swim lessons and think of all work you could get done!
Irvine:
http://www.icns.us/Home_Page.html
Costa Mesa:
http://www.ccppns.org/sunshine/index.html
The only bummer is you’d have to make it with the house of puppy until September!
Jennifer
You describe this stage so perfectly. It looks like THREE is going to be the year that kills us. HELP PLEZ.
lynne
I think this must be the reason my parents used to make me run around the house 10 times.
mar
I second (or third, or fourth) – preschool! My kids were all the same at about that age – 2 or 3 mornings a week would be just what the doctor ordered! She’d get extra play time with new people and new toys, you’d have a few hours to either recharge your batteries or get work done – so when she is home and in a chew-your-slippers kind of mode, you’ll have the fortitude to handle it!
jane
My DD not only acts like one, she ADMITS she is one … that or a kitty. I agree ARGH!!!!
DeeJay
Lol. Heather was that way too. When she started school it was all I could do to keep her awake in the evenings. The poor little thing had so many day activities that it wore her out.
Jeanne
Thank you. I find it comforting when people admit that spending all day everyday with their 3 year-old isn’t always fun. Then I feel less guilty about letting mine watch cartoons so I can play on the internet.
He’s not in preschool yet either. It is a long day.
Janna from Honeyed Hashette
My godsons are puppies too and preschool helps them SO MUCH! I know many churches have affordable “Mothers Day Out” programs that can give Bug some buddies, needed new types of playtime, new structure and you some time to recharge.
Best of Luck!
patois
The good thing about puppies — besides the dog run — is that crate training is advocated. Sorry you’re getting such a run for your life. Thankfully, it’ll all be a blur in a couple of years.
Susan
I don’t know if your anti-church or whatever, but a lot of churches have those Mothers Day Out programs two days a week or MOPS which is Mother of Preschoolers once a week. Most are inexpensive or offer scholarships.
It helps get those wiggles out in an organized, teacher setting, play time sort of way with lots of other wiggly kiddos.
Might be great for you to…
Gramma
Yes, they do grow up. It was right before your uncle was born. I was hanging baby things on the clothesline outside to allow the October sun bleach out some of the storage yellowing. Your mom, dear little creature of “just turned three” thought she was helping me by waxing my newly scrubbed, pale gray asphalt tile kitchen floor. Alas, the Fuller Brush Floor Wax can looked just like the Furniture polish can. You can guess the rest of the story.
Mrs. Wilson
I’m sorry! I totally feel your pain though. My 20-month-old is similar – especially with the story times that last for HOURS.
I hope three is better! Three was my favorite age with my older one – I hope it’s the same for you.
The Chatty Housewife
Just do what we do with our puppy, keep her outside.
Just joking. Hope things get better. Send Bug my way, I would love to have a squirmy puppy like child to take care of!
HackerJen
I think my son is a puppy too. I will need to do some more research into this! Excellent observation.
Red Lotus Mama
First … where did you get those adorable slippers?!?!?!?! They are to die for!
At least Bug is not actually barking and crawling around on all fours. Princess D still does that on occasion. Yes, twos and threes are exhausting. If you are not paying attention to them they will make sure they get it. I never talk on the phone anymore because of the constant “MOOOOMMMMIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!” She wants to cook with me (which is not really safe with all of the boiling water and knives), she wants to clean with me (which is a big help sometimes), she wants to bang on the keyboard with me (which is why my V key gets stuck). Get sleep when you can. These are the fun, but exhausting years!
lynne
Happy Christmas Secret Agent Jo have a wonderful time with your family. I am shortly leaving for my mothers home in North Wales where a bunch of us will squeeze into her house for a few, fun riotous days. Take care xxx
OMSH
And you were wondering where I got mine?
Uh huh.
cindy
You are so cute!
My husband and I joke that we need to build a dog run for our three one year-olds because they are already wearing me out with their need for activity. I can’t imagine how they’ll be in a couple years! Holy crap!
I hope you get a little breather soon :) PHEW!
Karen
Meds. They do the trick. They help you keep your sanity.
beyond
sounds jolly but also tiring. reading this, my first thought was: preschool! i bet just one or two days a week would make a big difference to you. and her. one of my nephews went through a (fairly long) doggy phase when he was 4 or so. his mother would have to prepare ‘doggy meals’ and he would bark, pant, scramble around on all fours, and lick our faces. ha! cuter for me than for his parents and brother who were around him all the time.