Toddler Struggles

[SoonerTexan]

N is being a beast today. Defiant, screaming, so stubborn about everything. Destroying everything in her path. I don't believe in spanking, but I came super close today. I lightly swatted her bottom when she wouldn't turn over from her belly for a diaper change and she laughed.

She's been clingy this week too, though. Still traumatized by the flu shot she saw me get. I'm exhausted

[GreyhoundsRUs]

She's been clingy this week too, though. Still traumatized by the flu shot she saw me get. I'm exhausted

H gets her first set of vax on Tuesday - I'm hoping that A doesn't freak out. Then both A and I are getting flu shots the following Monday. Yikes!

A's new thing is "almost" - she's never ever finished with anything (meals especially) unless you present her with a "better" alternative.
Me: "Are you done in the tub?"
A: "Almost"
Me: "Well, after your bath, we can watch TV"
A: "All done taking bath".

It's exhausting! I feel like about 7 months pregnant - about 2 months post-partum were my worst parenting times, and we're just rounding the corner now. Hang in there, ST (and T&S)!

[scrub-jay]

Toddler Struggles

H gets her first set of vax on Tuesday - I'm hoping that A doesn't freak out. Then both A and I are getting flu shots the following Monday. Yikes!

A's new thing is "almost" - she's never ever finished with anything (meals especially) unless you present her with a "better" alternative.
Me: "Are you done in the tub?"
A: "Almost"
Me: "Well, after your bath, we can watch TV"
A: "All done taking bath".

It's exhausting! I feel like about 7 months pregnant - about 2 months post-partum were my worst parenting times, and we're just rounding the corner now. Hang in there, ST (and T&S)!

Here's how bath ends in our house-
"You're done when the water is gone" (start emptying tub) I'm the queen of options, but some things aren't up for discussion. DD earns the privilege of staying in while the water drains. The "almost" thing would drive me crazy, like she's just waiting for an incentive.

[SoonerTexan]

It's like that annoying Coke Zero commercial. "And?"

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Here's how bath ends in our house-
"You're done when the water is gone" (start emptying tub) I'm the queen of options, but some things aren't up for discussion. DD earns the privilege of staying in while the water drains. The "almost" thing would drive me crazy, like she's just waiting for an incentive.

Bath time usually ends with me saying "Ok, it's time for H's bath", but she got a bath this AM because she woke up sweaty and feverish :/

I don't like to take food away from her if she's still eating, but at some point, enough is enough. 1 noodle/5 minutes is not efficient


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod

[scrub-jay]

Bath time usually ends with me saying "Ok, it's time for H's bath", but she got a bath this AM because she woke up sweaty and feverish :/

I don't like to take food away from her if she's still eating, but at some point, enough is enough. 1 noodle/5 minutes is not efficient


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod

I hear you on the food!! I have a slow eater on my house too. My 7 month old with no teeth can put away anything faster than 3 yr old dd. I'm not even kidding. He's also strangely tidier, I don't think he wants to miss a single bite. :/

[HouseofWool]

Here's how bath ends in our house-
"You're done when the water is gone" (start emptying tub) I'm the queen of options, but some things aren't up for discussion. DD earns the privilege of staying in while the water drains. The "almost" thing would drive me crazy, like she's just waiting for an incentive.

When I did that my kids flipped the lever for the drain to stop it back up again... *sigh*

[HouseofWool]

S is so f-ing slow when she eats that we end up just leaving her sitting by herself at the table while we start to clear it. And, we typically sit there for 10-15 minutes after we are done eating waiting for her before giving up.

[SoonerTexan]

When I did that my kids flipped the lever for the drain to stop it back up again... *sigh*

I have to hide the plug (rubber stopper) so she wont put it back in. Lately she's been clever and will clog it with toys or the washcloth.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

When I did that my kids flipped the lever for the drain to stop it back up again... *sigh*

This is our house too.

Lately we've been having a horrible time getting her dressed. She screams and runs away.

I feel awful but basically every word out of my mouth is a threat - "ok, well mommy is going to church so you can stay here if you don't want to get dressed", "ok, well mommy is going inside, do you want to stay here?", etc. I really, really, really hate parenting that way but she's entering the terrible twos 4 months early apparently and I'm by myself most of the time. And yesterday she kicked my pregnant stomach like 6 times while changing her diaper. I finally had to physically hold her down and get in her face. Which again makes me feel horrible, I don't like physical intimidation either.

UGH, why do you always become EXACTLY what you don't want to become when you're under stress?

[diggitydot]

Toddler Struggles

I finally had to physically hold her down and get in her face. Which again makes me feel horrible, I don't like physical intimidation either.

UGH, why do you always become EXACTLY what you don't want to become when you're under stress?

There is a world of difference between physical intimidation and having to strong arm a strong-willed kiddo to prevent an injury in either themselves or you.

Toddlerhood is tough. You're an amazing mom. Don't knock yourself so hard.

And don't feel awful about the options you're giving her. You're teaching her about natural consequences and that's an extremely valuable lesson for kiddos to get.

[SoonerTexan]

T&S, same here too.

Don't feel bad. N has been a terror lately, but she's also been really really anxious about stuff too. She freaks out at the sight of the vacuum cleaner and was shaken up when someone knocked on the door. She saw me get a flu shot Friday and is still traumatized. I'm thinking the two are related. I'm not looking forward to interviews...having daddy gone all the time is going to be rough. I bet D isn't liking Daddy being gone either.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Having Daddy gone is certainly not helping anything. There's no one to help reason with her or to cajole her into anything so I'm just full of threats. I'm not even any fun, even I know that. I'm so stressed that she's just one of the things on my list. I feel horrible but we're in survival mode here.

And I'm sure Daddy leave again only a month after baby comes home is going to be sucktastic.

Yeah, I really had to draw the line with her kicking my pregnant stomach repeatedly. She just knows when to be such a stinker and when not to be (when Daddy or the nanny are around).

[MarissaNicole]

This is our house too.

Lately we've been having a horrible time getting her dressed. She screams and runs away.

I feel awful but basically every word out of my mouth is a threat - "ok, well mommy is going to church so you can stay here if you don't want to get dressed", "ok, well mommy is going inside, do you want to stay here?", etc. I really, really, really hate parenting that way but she's entering the terrible twos 4 months early apparently and I'm by myself most of the time. And yesterday she kicked my pregnant stomach like 6 times while changing her diaper. I finally had to physically hold her down and get in her face. Which again makes me feel horrible, I don't like physical intimidation either.

UGH, why do you always become EXACTLY what you don't want to become when you're under stress?

Those aren't threats. You are being much too hard on yourself!

Right now I find Minnie responds really well to praise and loves to say "good girl"

I try and redirect her with "Can you please be a good listener?"

Of course nothing works when she's tired.

Have you tried telling her things aren't optional? Like kicking mommy is NEVER okay. And she doesn't get a choice on getting dressed. I apologize if this is stupid as I'm behind you by a few months!

Wife to PGY4

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Those aren't threats. You are being much too hard on yourself!

Right now I find Minnie responds really well to praise and loves to say "good girl"

I try and redirect her with "Can you please be a good listener?"

Of course nothing works when she's tired.

Have you tried telling her things aren't optional? Like kicking mommy is NEVER okay. And she doesn't get a choice on getting dressed. I apologize if this is stupid as I'm behind you by a few months!

Wife to PGY4

It's a good idea on the good girl thing. I've never tried that so I can try that at least.

I do think I need to be firmer on the kicking thing. She thinks she's being funny kicking herself away from me when I pull her close for a diaper change but it actually really hurts and I'm pretty sure it's not ideal for the fetus either.