A new attitude emerges...

Maddox has recently developed a little bit of an attitude.  It really isn't that bad but because he has always been easygoing and passive, it has taken me by surprise and I'm not handling it very well.  His attitude consists of telling me to "stop" or saying "no" to me, hitting me, being disobedient and defiant, running away from me when he is in trouble and taking things away from me and away from Jackie.  Overall, Maddox is still a very sweet, loving and affectionate boy.  He has good days and bad days and so do I.  We are learning how to live with one another as he develops into his own independent self.  Usually, I just put him in a time out or in his bedroom.  That does the job but there have been days where he gets 10 time outs and I get so worn out and lose my patience.  I have to admit that I have definitely lost my temper with him and yelled at him and grabbed him on the arm probably a little too hard.  I always feel so so bad afterwards and say sorry and hug and kiss him and we snuggle.  But I know that doesn't make it right or make it okay.  I'm working on not losing my temper and trying to be more patient but it may be a lifelong struggle for me.  Maddox loves swimming, baths and showers and pretty much anything where he can play with water.  He is still very tan and has beautiful skin.  We are growing his hair out again so he's once again in the mullet phase.  Poor guy.  But he really is beautiful.  He still is a very picky eater but I have adopted the motto, "You don't have to eat it."  This really has made my life less stressful and hopefully, has made Maddox's experience with eating and food more positive.  I buy somewhat healthy snacks and he has his own shelf in the pantry.  He can choose any of those foods whenever he is hungry.  I feed him oatmeal or cereal for breakfast and then he usually snacks until dinner.  At dinner, I give him a choice of a hot dog, mac n cheese, pancakes, or a quesadilla.  If he doesn't want any of those things, then I don't make him anything and he can fend for himself.  He only drinks orange juice and chocolate milk and occasionally water.  He loves Taco Bell hot sauce, pop tarts, peanuts, and cereal.  Maddox has started speech therapy and has been improving a ton with his speaking just in the last couple of months.  It happened very quickly and he finally figured out that talking is easier than making monkey noises and pointing.  He is obsessed with TV and his Ipad.  We have been working on that slowly.  Maddox still takes an afternoon nap most days but it's getting later and I'm not sure it will last much longer.  He loves to snuggle still which I am so happy about.  He comes into my bed in the mornings and we snuggle while we wake up and then he snuggles me after his nap.  He is very affectionate with Jackie and loves wrestling with him and hugging him and tickling him.  They get along so well and Maddox is so good with him.  Maddox doesn't like to share but he is doing better every day.  Maddox still sleeps on his floor every night and has a collection of toys, stuffed animals and books that he arranges around him every night.  I've given up on that battle of making him sleep in a bed and it has been very freeing.  Overall, Maddox is a healthy, energetic, loving, good boy.  I am so proud of him and who he is becoming.  He is so patient and forgiving with  me.  He is my best friend and I spend every day all day with him.  He sees all of my weaknesses and mistakes and he still loves me.  I couldn't ask for a more perfect little partner.