Tomorrow our big little guy turns five years old. FIVE. In my mind this is the age that begins Big Kid. In that spirit, when a new stage begins, something must come to an end, and I think we're ready to say farewell to #AlexHatesEverything.
In 2016, our sweet, sensitive, cuddly 2 year old was still pretty quiet most of the time and a real joy to be around. But there were times - when something seemingly minor would happen - and Alex would melt into a teary, drooling mess of unclear words mixed with yell-crying. Often, this was followed by long periods of pouting, anger and frustration. This is not new behavior, many parents have the same struggle, but my answer to this was to start photographing the tantrums and allowing myself a little comic release. So in January 2017, #AlexHatesEverything was born.
Over the last two years we have seen an incredible maturing of our little guy. He is now a big brother, with a full, generously used vocabulary who has his own, measured way of doing things. His tantrums have virtually disappeared, being replaced by more of a side-eye look and crossed arms. Honestly, the hashtag photos were helpful in showing Alex how silly he looked when he lost his cool. And for anyone who has seen these photos and thought they were mean or unfair, know that no one has laughed harder than Alex while looking at himself losing his mind over a sandwich or the wrong bowl or because it was time to go home. Not to mention how cathartic for mom - who often time had to spend an hour coaxing her toddler while chasing down her 4/5 year old while also (at times) very pregnant.
I want these photos to be captured in our family records to look back on, as we do with most of the items in this blog. So here's to the end of an era. Our little boy spent his last day as a 4 year old happy, reasonable and very excited for his upcoming birthDAY and celebration over the weekend.
Enjoy #AlexHatesEverything one more time.... and stay tuned.... I feel in my bones that there may be a future for #GrahamHatesEverything.
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| Alex hates getting only one chocolate granola bar. |
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| Alex hates finishing his sandwich. |
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| Alex hates listening to Sirius/XM 90s on 9. |
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| I call this series "Alex hates Fridays". |
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| Alex hates getting the mail. |
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| Alex hates rain. |
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| Don't you DARE split the last cupcake. Alex hates half desserts. |
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| Alex hates "just coming right home" after gymnastics. |
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| Ales hates when you fill his kid-sized grocery cart with salad. |
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| Alex hates it when he can't ride ALL the scooters in the neighborhood. |
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| Alex hates being told to get a Kleenex [and not use his shirt]. |
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| Alex hates getting "only two things" for lunch. |
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| Alex hates half-marathons |
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| Alex hates all fruits except watermelon. Which is one of the few we don't have on hand. |
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| Alex hates leaving Pump It Up to go to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. It's a tough life. |
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| Alex hates dinnertime. |
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| Alex hates not helping our neighbors paint. |
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| Alex hates Easter parties. |
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| Alex hates when last night's babysitter is gone in the morning. |
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| Alex hates vineyards |
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| Alex hates half-full snack bowls. "I don't want 11! I want like 100 animal crackers!" |
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| Alex hates the wide turn radius of his new car |
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| Alex hates not impulse-purchasing toys on Christmas Eve |
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| Alex hates jokes |
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| Alex hates small bowls |
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| Alex hates "Baby Painting" |
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| Alex hates only one snack after soccer |
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| Alex Hates Water Safety |
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| Alex Hates Independance |
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| Alex hates Family Photo Sessions |
