Terrible Two rears its ugly head!

         I was warned and warned about these so called "terrible two's" but yet I didn't want to think that my sweet little boy would ever put his momma through such nonsense...point blank, I was wrong. Big time wrong. I mean on the verge of tears at some points wrong. Now don't get me wrong I love my son and I love being his mommy. He is sweet and smart and funny. His vocabulary is getting better and better each day and it's amazing to see him learn like that. He gives kisses...to everything he owns. He adores his big cousin "Donnik" (also know as Dominic) and his aunt Mimi. He loves his Pap and his Grama is his best friend (aside from mommy). He plays with our adopted outside cat "Buzzie" (who really belongs to the neighbors and is named Buster). He loves animals and playing outside, and is really getting the hang of this t-ball business. BUT, with all that being said he has an attitude the size of an ELEPHANT!
       Our first major argument/issue of the morning usually involves the fact that he's not quite ready to stop watching Bubble Guppies or playing with his dump trucks to get dressed and get out of the door. Followed by "no I do it!" when I try to help to the potty or with his clothes, ending in a fit of hysteria when he can't get it figured out by himself but refuses to allow me to help. This, I know, is all part of him learning to be independent and to master new skills but its so hard to watch/deal with. I want him to be able to do all the things he wants to do by himself but patience is something he doesn't get from his mother so we struggle with this together.
        My biggest complaint with this age is the fact that he just down right decides to not listen when told to do something or not to do something. For example, we're outside gardening and I have a bag of plant food which I am letting him help me put on the plants one at a time when we need it. I turn my back once, he's pouring it into the grass. We go over the rules about it again. I go get water and he's dumping the entire bag into his toy bucket. Yes, I am aware that this in itself is not the end of the world, but at some point he needs to learn to listen and that here are rules that need to be followed. Some rules, thank goodness, he gets. Like "don't touch that its hot and will burn you" that one he gets. And cars and parking lots "cars get you momma." In retrospect I should be happy that he gets the major safety rules but at some point he has to start listening a little better....right?       
       Overall my kid is well behaved and he's smart growing and healthy but every now and then it just gets to the point where I feel I must be failing as a mother because I have a 2 year old who can't sit through dinner out or listen at all times. Then I'm reminded, he's only 2. And I see how well behaved he is when I sneak in to daycare to pick him up in the afternoon. It'll be interesting over the coming months to see who wins the battle of the wills...stay tuned....

                                           Ryan and his big cousin "Donnik"