Terrible Twos?

I understand most toddlers go through the "terrible twos" phase, but it didn't occur to me I could be right in IT now even though the munchkins are just 18 months old. Every passing day gets more and more challenging for both the munchkins and me as they start to embark on their journey towards independence.

We get caught in so many NO WIN situation daily when the munchkins insist on being independent at performing tasks which they aren't adequately equipped with the skills to do it yet. Its a terrible vicious cycle which goes something like this:

• They want to play the 3-D shapes sorter.
• I quietly watch them do it, knowing they lack the skills to complete sorting all the shapes.
• They get frustrated at their failure to perform, they start to whine.
• I try to comfort them and offer my help.
• They get upset because I tried to help, so they begin to wail.
• I take a step back and watch again, offering only verbal instructions.
• They recognise their inadequacy and rage at me for not helping them.
• I try to demonstrate how the shapes should be realigned in order to slip it into the box.
• They kick and scream as if I had "desecrated' the pieces of shapes.
• I retreat to a corner, take a deep breathe and pray if necessary.
• They continue to wail.
• We take a 2-4 minutes time out.
• Things return to normal and they move on to another toy.
• The whole cycle starts again...

If this is just a prelude to the "terrible twos" stage, God help me! I cannot imagine being in the actual phase. Otherwise, I pray I'll become amnesic, just like the munchkins.