My toddler boys are well into their second year of life, but until recently had been really kind of easy going and well behaved.  I knew the “terrible twos” were on the way at some point in time, but that does not make it any easier when the tantrums start coming.

One thing I have noticed is that the behavior gets worse when they are tired.  Now I subscribe to all the parenting magazines, have my books on parenting toddlers, and surf the internet and I’ve read all the articles that say when toddlers get tired their behavior goes down the toilet.  I just hoped it would not happen to me.

I started to wonder why exactly this happens.  Is there some physiological phenomenon that happens in a child when they are tired that turns them from my dear, sweet angel to a demon?  I immediately opened up my internet browser and typed in a search when I started to think about the whole situation from a different perspective – from my point of view.

I am a sleep deprived mother.  I know, hello – welcome to the club.  All mothers are sleep deprived to some extent.  Of course I think I have it the worst, but so does every other mother.  And then I started to think about how I act when I haven’t had a lot of sleep.  I’m cranky, I’m moody, I want to sit on the couch and do nothing.  Would my toddler boys really be any different?

But I have one advantage that my children don’t have.  I understand what is going on.  I can put words to my feelings and be able to say to my husband or friends “I’m sorry I’m cranky but I did not sleep last night.”  My boys have speech delays.  Even a child who did not have a speech delay is not going to be able to sort out his or her feelings and put into words what is going on.

When I’m tired I don’t want to do anything. Are my children any different?  When I ask them to do something and they defy me or ignore me are they really exhibiting bad behavior?  Or is this the only way they can control a situation they are unable to describe or understand?

My sources I see in the magazines will tell you to make sure your child gets enough sleep.  Sometimes I think that is easier said then done, especially when you have twins or multiples.  One gets up, the other wants to get up too.  Every once in a while I’d like to see the “experts” come into my home and figure out a way to get both of the boys to sleep when one does not want to sleep.  But I digress.

I guess the only answer to this problem is to recognize the fact that these children are toddlers and hopefully when they are able to better express themselves I won’t see all the defiance and poor behavior when they are so tired.  Or maybe the answer is for me to go to sleep and let daddy be in charge tonight.  I think I like that idea better!