Toddlers...aarrghh!
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The last week or so Natalie gets sooo bent out of shape over silly things that don't go "her way". It's making me nuts! Today, she wanted to wash her hands in the sink after painting. Fine, that was my plan, but the paint was rolling off of her hands, so I was going to get the worst off with a wipe before going to the sink. She blew a gasket! I mean a serious gasket. If she wanted to pick up the last 2 pieces of macaroni off the floor and I didn't think (crazy me) and picked them up, she falls apart. Grrrrrrrr.....
She's also gotten a little bossy lately..."No DaddyMommy, stop" and grabs things out of your hands. Grrrrr again. Then all of a sudden she doesn't want to share her toys with us. About the half time, we play together, fine. Then the other half (these days anyway!) she doesn't want you touching any of the toys that are near her when she's playing. We talk about sharing a lot when she gets together with her playgroup, and she does absolutely fine with the other kids as far as sharing her toys. But lately for DH and I, she grabs it right out and says "No, mine!"
Grrrrrrrrrr....this afternoon with the paint thing just about did me in. When she grabs things away from me and says "No!", my blood hits boiling in about 10 seconds.
DH and I were talking about it lastnight and thinking Yes, it must be cool to know that you can talk, walk, and do so many things independently now, and showing that new level of control must be fun for her. (Not for us.)
Are we entering a new phase or what?  My sweet and easygoing little girl is gradually turning into Miss Boss America in the last 2 weeks!
Oh yes, I so remember this stage! They are so cute but sometimes you feel like pulling your hair out. Hang in there it only gets better.
I am so there with you!
That makes me feel better. I'm not alone!!
My dd was born a boss. Seriously. I keep thinking what will she be like as a teenager.
Deanna, you are SO not alone. In fact, I was going to post about the same thing tonight. He is so MOODY lately. Gets such a sad face over nothing. I also think he's teething too. He's constantly putting his hand in his mouth.
I've had to put him in time out a few times for hitting again lately too.
I'm not saying your situations lend themselves to this discipline, but my doc said to hold him on my lap (away from me) and in a boring corner for 1 minute. Use a timer...i use our kitchen timer.
He has stopped. I also had to do it for when he hit our dog. That actually makes me more mad.
How does God ever expect us to have more children? I hope I forget what this is like by the time DH gets back!! LOL
Heidi- I sort of did that today with a kitchen chair during the paint incident. At the time I was thinking it was more for me than her though.
It's funny because whenever she gets into trouble over something (things I mentioned in the original post) she cries and starts asking for something else that she really likes. Today, during the pain incident, she was crying and trying different things....cry,cry,cry "Watch Barney, watch Barney" then cry,cry,cry "sticker, sticker" and then she threw on a "peeeeeeze" at the end. Oh, and also "Mommy hold me, Mommy hold me". Quite funny in retrospect. I responded with "I don't like what you're doing and I'm not going to hold you right now. Little girls that are nice get to watch Barney and have stickers."
Generally what we've been doing is like "Please don't throw the macaroni"...wait, another throw, "if you throw the macaroni Mommy is putting it away"...another throw...I quietly clean up the mac and put it away. "When you throw macaroni I put it away." End of story. She throws a fit, I ignore it, we move on. More and more I just notice her grabbing violently at my hands while I clean it up and saying "NOOOOO! STOP!!" That is so disrespectful to me and I refuse to have a disrespectful child.
I found it harder today because I was just getting so mad and it was at the END of the day, too, which didn't help. I hate feeling that way!
My DD went through the exact same thing.It does get better.LOL
OOooohhhh, Deanna...I'm so happy I'm not the only one. The pediatrician gave me a pamphlet the other day on "How to raise a difficult child." I about had a fit. I'm thinking...hhhhmmmm...he's fr!ggin' TWO!!!!
I found out today, after many trials and tears, that the more I let him do and choose to do, the less fighting I got. It's SO painful too. I let him close the velcro on his shoes. It took FOREVER!! But, he had the choice of doing the velcro or putting on his hat and that seemed to calm him down.
These toddlers are ridiculous, no? I know I cry at least 2 times a day...sometimes for other obvious reasons, but other times just because I think I have a little monster in my home that won't listen to me. Reasoning is tossed right out the window!!
Not to burst any bubbles here. BUT, the "difficult" toddler will grow up and become the difficult child someday. My 8 yr old is quite difficult and has been since birth. When he let out his first cry DH says "We are in for trouble!!!". I believe it is their personality. You learn to pick your battles and when to give in. It's definitely not easy. I also will not have a disrespectful child !!!! It does get easier in a different kind of way. Deanna and Heidi you both have an education and I'm sure that will come in handy. Hang in there. I wish I had support like this when my kids were young, I didn't even have a computer until a couple years ago.
LOL...well I wouldn't consider Natalie to be a "difficult child", but rather a toddler who is experiencing some serious joy in independence! Plus, she's a girl so that definitely doesn't help with the emotions!
My friend's little boy is 3mths. older than ours are and she said he is doing a lot of the same things...making one decision then switching it, then back, angry about it, etc. I even got to see some of that today and I thought..hhmm, that's Natalie alright! LOL She's just too darn smart for her own good. I didn't know that being able to talk so well would mean "mouth"!
Deanna and Heidi, I can relate, too. Lara is a bit older, but sometimes I feel like I'm walking on eggs with her. Some days everything seems to set her off, and I find myself feeling frustrated and tired.
Just wondering, do Natalie and Connor dislike hair brushing, teeth brushing, face washing and getting dressed? I'm having a time of it with Lara. Lately all she wants to do is wear pajamas,(because they are soft) and any grooming is a daily battle. (I encourage her to do it herself, but she is ever so reluctant.) To be honest, if we are just staying home, I don't always get her hair combed, etc. She even dislikes having lotion applied.
Hugs to both of you. I so understand. Heidi, I cry too. I want to do the best job I can, but sometimes she (dd) and I have a different agenda! I have to give and take with her all day. And Deanna, I know that feeling at the end of the day when my patience is spent, and the anger comes in. Fortunately my dh is home evenings, and he takes over at that point! I usually get outside and do some yard work. Take it out on the poor weeds, lol.
In response Nicki, Natalie seems to enjoy getting dressed (she's doing a lot of it herself) and LOVES to brush her teeth. She doesn't care much for hair brushing though, although she doesn't throw a fit either. She just won't sit still!
At least that's the way she is NOW...we'll see how that changes in the future! LOL
Yes, it is nice to have DH take over in the evenings. Our paint incident was around 4:00 though, so I still had another hour+ before DH got home and at that moment I was wishing so much that he was home!
Heidi - I'm sure it's so much more difficult for you not having DH home to give you some relief on the rough days. Hang in there my dear!
My DD went through the same stage when she understood that her actions got a reaction.Somedays I thought who stole my sweet little angel and gave me this little devil (LOL)She actually made me rethink discipline strageties and second guess myself as a parent.That is when I had to get tuffer so she understood her action got a time-out reaction.When we had rough days I would go into her room at night and hope for a better day and feel bad that we had to argue in the day.Just when you figure them out they change again.I ALWAYS notice a difference in change of seasons.It has to be weather related.Hang in there it does pass (into another stage)LOL
Thread was spammed 07-20-06
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