My Attempt At Solving World Peace (because I heard it's easier than solving toddler tantrums...)

Someone MUST know how to do this - and WHY haven't they written a book letting the rest of us in on all of their dirty secrets for making parenting work? Well as it turns out they have, we've read them, and they suck. So back to square one. Our perfect little 15 month old has turned into a 16 month old which seems to mean a complete disregard for all habits and "norms" leading up to this date. I put "norms" in quotes because one must remember that although my son is 16 months old, I've been a practicing parent for a mere 3 months. So any parents out there with a desire to wag your finger at me saying "16 months is SOOOO much easier than 1 month, or 3 months, or...etc" please pack that finger back in your toddler's nose. (Which, as a side note, we've had to do ridiculously often lately as well. At what point will he start going through less than 3 boxes of Kleenex a week?) Maybe 16 months would be easy had we been building our relationship and norms for that entire 16 months. But we haven't, its been just over 3 months, and norms are still very much so on their way to being built. So there.

As you might have already guessed we're experiencing some, well, changes in Ashton's behavior. Particularly when it comes to behaving. And particularly when it comes to behaving during meal times. I just want my child to scrumptiously yet delicately lick his fingers in delight post delicious meal and smile at the chef in a heartwarming manner that lands us a free desert. Is that too much to ask? Apparently so. So, we're employing all of the tactics and holding our breath that our dear sweet child will return to his culinary ways...soon. Really God, SOON. Please God? Soon?

So, what does a family accustomed to dining out yet TEMPORARILY faced with behavior issues do on a Saturday? Go to the orchards!!!

We live in apple picking country so today we picked apples. And rode a cow train. And took a hayride. And rode John Deere tricycles. And wandered through a corn maze. And wore ourselves out so there was no possible way that dinner could include a meltdown...and now it's almost time for bed.

Thank the freaking Gods we made it. I'm bald and Mike's crying in a corner but the blessed babe is fed and asleep and we're all still alive to tell the tale of another day. A really freaking awesome day.