One of the coolest parts of Annie’s getting older is being able to watch her develop her own identity. Unfortunately, this is also one of the hardest parts. I say this because with every incredible milestone (like taking her first steps) that this new and improved Annie achieves comes the heartbreaking fact that I am OMG THE MEANEST DADDY IN THE WORLD!!!
When Annie was just an adorable blob of a few months or so there weren’t many things that could upset her. If she was crying it was pretty much because A) She was hungry, or B) She was wet. That’s it. Now that she is almost one, however, those are just two of a myriad of reasons she could be upset. Let me count the ways…
When I take away from her something she isn’t supposed to have like a cell phone, fork, or remote control:
When I stop her from putting something she found on the floor in her mouth:
When I walk into the kitchen and leave her sight for more than two seconds:
When I stop playing with her to get some work done:
When she suddenly decides that our game of Peekaboo is no longer funny but scary:
When I don’t let her pull on Rigby’s hair:
The list goes on and on and on. And while it is cool that she is becoming her own little person, it breaks my heart to see her not only crying and angry, but crying and angry because of something I did!
There is a silver lining though. The person she wants to comfort her the most in these circumstances is her mean ol’ Dad.
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When I was younger and my parents punished me, they would always say “this hurts me more than it hurts you”. At the time I thought yeah, right.
Now I know it’s so true. I’ll tell my daughter no and prevent her from doing things she wants to do for her own safety but when she cries because of it, I feel so bad and want to cry along with her.
Elle´s last [type] ..Guest Blogger- Jayne from Mum’s The Word Expectations
Oh my gosh, she is so stinkin’ cute! Even when she’s sad and mad. It’s so lovely when their personalities begin to make themselves really known. Enjoy!
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Speak with confidence- you might be believed
Yes, ditto Elle! My children are a smidge older, and at times I want to let them get away with stuff that won’t KILL them.. but then I know I have to do what is right for them and myself. Ugh. It stinks.. and it gets more and more difficult as they get older.
She is absolutely adorable. Though I wanna hug the poor girl, but don’t worry – she forgives you now pretty easily. It’s later on that she won’t be as forgiving possibly. LOL.
Alison´s last [type] ..Nicole Kidman- Keith Urban Welcome New Baby Via Surrogate
You know, it’s the “mean daddies” that love their children the most
I’m a “mean mommy” and proud of it! We take the small items away from their tight grasps…so that they don’t choke. We say no, you can’t watch that movie…so they won’t be exposed to something they are too immature for. We say no, you cannot date until you are forty…so that they will never ever ever ever ever have sex, because OMG that’s just scary. (kidding! well, not really…I have teenagers. sigh.)
Anyway, sometimes being “mean” isn’t really being mean, but just showing love.
And I know you know that.
But I just wanted to write it anyway.
My first kid would never cry as a baby. She would smile at the drop of a hat. I now have a 5 week old boy that cries at everything. I hate to admit it though that when he is quiet and starting to smile at me I appreciate it more since I had to “work” to get it.
Kids make me weird.
Bless Annie, I recognise every single one of those crying faces, I think they’re universal to all little girls! However, the “Look, I’ve got my Daddy” is the most recognisable one. Little girls and their dads, eh?
It is all new ground for her, now, huh? This getting used to being reprimanded. Her faces are so sad! Ugh! It is definitely very hard to stay firm when all you want to do is apologize and cuddle!
It is hard to picture that face looking indignant and rolling (her) eyes at you in 7 years or so
Ha! Makes me laugh! I’m mean bc I didn’t let my 2 year old eat one of those pine cone balls the other day.
btw… I have a daughter who turned 1 on the 12th of this month. Annie and her are very similar. Try this… Fake cry loudly. My daughters lip hangs low and starts quivering (mean mommy!) but the minute I fake laugh, she is laughing with me. I do realize this sounds a tad mean…just try it once or twice for entertainment purposes!:) Annie is a beauty. I can see her spunk even just looking at pics! Love her!
Theoretically, this isn’t funny, but it actually is. LOL! All the pictures are priceless!!! I imagine, though, that the best thing about this age is the fact that “mean daddy” is quickly replaced & forgotten by “comforting & soothing daddy”.
She’s a lucky little girl to have you as a daddy!!
Awww, she’s even cute when she cries. At least, if you have to be the mean ol’ dad you still get the hugs
Lisa´s last [type] ..Tough Love
Boy, do I know where you are coming from!
We are the MEANEST PARENTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD! We can totally give you a run for your money.
This weekend alone, we stopped the kidlet from:
1. Climbing up the book case.
2. Reprogramming the DVR.
3. Climbing INTO the bathroom cabinet.
4. Swallowing a quarter.
5. Biting her older brother.
Next time, I am gonna get photographic evidence to prove that I am indeed the meanest!
Awww that is so hard when you are the reason for their tears. But it is also the best that you are the only thing that soothes those same tears.
Kristin (MamaKK922)´s last [type] ..Oh these times are hard- Yeah theyre making us crazy Dont give up on me baby
She is a doll and such a lucky little girl to have you two as parents.
Mean ol’ dads like you are the BEST!
Deborah´s last [type] ..Friday Feast- Couscous
I’m really not sure what’s worse, when they cry after being told “no” or when they look at you and say “oh no!” and then start laughing manically. It is REALLY hard to keep a straight face through that.
Jen´s last [type] ..Chase – Almost 20 Months
I agree with an above poster, she still is cute when she’s crying. I know it’s heart breaking but I’m sure the hugs make up for it in the end.
That girl gets cuter every day! Each new picture you show, I just fall in love again with her sweet face and that big head of curls!!
Watch out, heartbreaking quickly turns into exasperating. But you might be one of the lucky ones. I didn’t get an “I hate you!” until my son was 12 and even then it was said mostly in jest. But…be prepared!
each of those pics is priceless! Her little face, man I would melt every time I see it. She is so stinkin cute, mad or happy!
i’m digging the justin bieber do in the 3rd to last picture.
also, this is only the beginning. wait till she storms off and slams her bedroom door..oh what fun! BUT where there are downs…there most definitely be UPs. i know..i have a 13 year old daughter
ALL of these photos are GREAT!!
Haha that last picture totally looks like she’s all “ha i got my way. daddy still loves me” lol. She is too cute
Krystal´s last [type] ..krisy0987- so if sometime during the middle of the night the same photo gets uploaded like 4 times- just ignore it please lol peace out homie-gs lol
Mike,
She’s not crying because she’s angry and upset at you… she is crying so that you can give into her…. ha… so she can wrap you around her lil finger some more…. Girls… gotta love them!
Love, love all of the pictures. She’s adorable! thanks for sharing!
oh for goodness sake. it should be illegal for a child to be that CUTE!! her face is priceless! daddy’s girl….
Those pictures are absolutely priceless!! She is adorably cute even when throwing a tantrum!! How is that possible?
AmazingGreis´s last [type] ..Goal setting for 2011…
Loving the cry faces! She looks like she can rustle up some serious attitude
I totally understand. I asked my Mom this morning, “Mom tell me the truth is Charlotte out of control or do most 17 month old cry when they don’t get what they want etc.” She assured me that our daughter was normal but that we needed to stop bribing her to do what she should be doing anyway and to hang in there because if we cave she’ll take everything! Sheesh its so hard!
Continue to stay mean, Mike and Heather. Setting these boundaries now will help in the future. And two other hard lessons to teach: every decision has a consequence and taking responsibility for our actions. Trust me, if you can be consistent will all this, all of Annie’s teachers will bless you and kiss the ground you walk on. And this world will be a better place.
Unbelievable!! I’ll be goldarned if I didn’t see every single one of Annie’s expressions detailed above on my darling **17-year old** daughter’s face over the course of this past weekend!! The more things change, the more they, well, I won’t belabor the cliche.
(Wow, is that an adorable babygirl y’all have on your hands!! Never ceases to amaze me what beautiful babies you two make!!)
Awwwwww! Having a one year old I can totally relate. Although, mine is a boy so there isn’t QUITE as much drama, lol! She sure is a cutie-pie, even when she’s angry.
So she doesn’t have you completely whipped yet? This one time when Isabella was a brand new 3 year old we all thought going to Bob Evans for dinner would be good. We pulled into the parking lot and Isabella freaks out saying “NOT THIS BOB EVANS” and after already turning the engine off and taking the keys out of the ignition…Kevin puts the keys back in, starts the car up and says “Which one do you want to go to hon”. She said a few landmarks and he figured out it was a Bob Evans around 20 miles west….and we went.
Rebecca´s last [type] ..More On Today
I love this so much, mainly because my husband would do exactly the same thing, and it makes me feel better to know that he’s not the only one who can be manipulated to this extent!
So cute! I could look at pictures of Annie all day. Adorable!
Oh, limits and boundaries STINK! But the cuddling is so worth it. Love the look on her face in that last pic.
And I feel sort of vindicated. Hubby used to get upset with me for taking the crying pics (I may have occasionally been giggling a bit too) Glad I’m not the only one.
That last picture is so freaking adorable I can’t stand it. My son currently cries if I even set him down and turn my back towards him. I hope he grows out of it soon.
I just love that both of your girls have the most expressive faces ever. It’s like you can just look at their faces and know EXACTLY what they were thinking when you took that picture.
Ahahahahaha! I laughed so hard at that last picture–SO adorable! She is such a cutie! Wrapped around her finger, huh?
That last photo is the sweetest. You do what’s best for her and you’re an amazing father. ;o)
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