Who's the Diva?

Every day these past weeks I've looked at Bella at some point (or many points) during the day and wondered, "Who are you and what have you done with my sweet Isabella?" She has become a full fledged two year old and has a mind and a will that knows no bounds. The area over which she has the greatest control in her life is her clothing and so she has become a total diva. She undresses and redresses at least 4-5 times a day. Always complaining that some item is either too hot/cold, small/big, scratchy, etc. I'm lucky if the outfit she puts on after she wakes up is still what she's wearing when we leave the house a hour later. So often I've called to her from the door on my way out and she'll arrive naked - after having been dressed (for the second or third time) only minutes before. She's also taken to undressing in public any time the mood strikes. At the park, in the backyard, or in the store, it makes no difference to her. When she decides she no longer likes a particular pair of pants or shirt, off it comes. And the fight that ensues when I try to put it back on her is a sight to see. That brings up the fact that she's also become a hitter. You know it's bad when your 2 year old doesn't just hit you and her brother, but even hits her grandmother, father, and the librarian. Should have seen the look on that woman's face! That'll teach her to tell Bella what to do.

Bella, after having once been fully dressed only moments before, had come back naked. So I sent her back to her room and this is how she reemerged, declaring, "me get dressed." They say that shoes make the outfit, so I guess she's covered the most crucial part.


The other thing she can control is what goes in her mouth. So she's redeveloped (after many months) a habit of eating the inedible. Rocks, wood chips, grass, her clothing, books, etc. have all become snacks lately. She'll even occasionally wander over to the kitchen table and start gnawing on a corner. She's also not to be persuaded to eat something she doesn't want. We had blackberries and strawberries for dessert yesterday and Benjamin finished his dinner in record time in order to obtain them. Bella was eating well, but not as fast. Until she saw Benjamin start in on the berries. She desperately wanted some, but I reminded her that she needed to finish her dinner first. That's when she tried to take control. "No!" she screamed and threw her fully-laden soup spoon at me. Zucchini spinach soup splattered on my arm, shirt, pants and the floor. She spent the rest of our dinner in time-out and then she ate her dinner alone. This time she ate it all without complaint before receiving her share of the berries. Don't mess with mommy - you think you've got a determined, willful personality - guess who gave it to you?

Some have told me that she's doing this because she knows she's about to be replaced as the baby in the family. Some say that this is just normal two year old behavior. Either way, the comforting thing is -(and I learned this with Benjamin when he behaved similarly at this age) - this is a stage. It will pass. It just seems like forever when you're in it. She might still be a clothes horse when she's older, but hopefully she won't be eating rocks or hitting well-intentioned librarians.