troublesome three's?!?

I have been warned many times about 3 being the "new 2". Throughout most of Ty's second year of life, he was a sweet, easy-going, compliant little boy that tested the rules really only a handful of times. Ty's third birthday came and went and this easy-going little guy is still around but things are changing. His little baby face is disappearing and with it comes a bigger, more capable boy. The biggest difference is his vocabulary and the ability to use it in different situations and to express his opinion. Ahh, and now we've come to the root of this massive change; the ability to express an opinion. One of our goals as a parent is to develop a free, independent thinker, right? Well, Tyler, if you can read this....Mommy and Daddy still run the show! Rules still apply! You may have discovered this new voice but you still have to be respectful and polite! Seriously, I think there are times when another little spirit jumps into Tyler's body, throws a fit, and then disappears as fast as he came. I don't know where it comes from but it gives a new meaning to being blindsided. On a intellectual level, I know all kids go through this faze. They're learning boundaries. They're learning the meaning of no. They're learning who is in control and how to express different opinions in a well-mannered way, etc. BUT on an emotional level, it's hard. It's hurtful. It's consuming. It's exhausting. It's sad (fill in the blank with all sorts of descriptors). I know his behavior is not directed toward either Adam or I in a way that's meant to hurt us, but sometimes it does. I hate being an army Sargent but I know the boundaries that we're teaching him now will only benefit all of us in the long run. With all this said, my sweet, tender hearted, all loving, silly little man is still there 90% of the time. It's just that the other 10% can sometimes feel all consuming. With each time out, I love Tyler more and I pray that his love grows too. Some day I will look back at these moments and laugh. Until then, I'm trying to peek through the blindfold of motherhood and put one foot in front of the other and keep my heart as open as humanly possible.