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Ugh. K2 has turned on me. Since his third birthday in June he's been absolutely miserable. This has really come as a surprise for me because he's always been empathetic, eager to please, and restrained by nature. He's always been my reliable and sensitive kid, the counter-point to K1's craziness, the one who would burst into tears if I told him "no" too sharply or suggested that we were not going to be friends that day. The one I could trust to stay close at the zoo even if I didn't hold his hand.
Now he's contrary to his detriment, hitting and taunting K1, being sneaky-mean to Lambie, he's demanding, having tantrums, yelling at me "RIGHT NOW!!!!!" all the time, he's sullen and says he didn't enjoy treats or outings even when he clearly did, running from me when I tell him to come, screaming in the car, he refuses to do anything I ask him to do and the only things that motivate him are food and TV. In a typical exchange, I'll ask him to get his shoes so we can go to the park. He'll respond that he doesn't want to get his shoes and he doesn't want to go to the park. Then when I say fine, we won't go to the park, he starts demanding to go to the park "right now." It's like this all day long. And he's very strong for his age so it's difficult to force him into the car/into time out or whatever. He acts like "I'm sorry" is a get out of jail free card and he can do whatever to whomever as long as he says he's sorry after.
Also, he's absolutely refusing to toilet. The kid weighs 40lbs and blows out his size 5T pull ups every single day because he's just too big for diapers. He tells me when he's wetting himself, when he's about to poop, when he needs his diaper changed ("CHANGE ME RIGHT NOW!!!!"). He'll make me get up from dinner to take him to the bathroom, then refuse to sit on the toilet only to announce that he's soiled himself the minute I return to my dinner. I've tried making him clean himself and he just says things like "ooohh, this is nice! I like poop!" and makes a big mess all while grinning ear to ear.
I'm sure that some of this is related to becoming a middle child and to K1's making progress this summer. K1 is maturing and has been so pleasant and helpful. Rather than wanting to emulate his brother, which he wanted to do in the past, K2 seems to be resentful that he has been displaced and there is a new rivalry between him and K1 (mostly initiated by K2). He's driving me nuts. What do I do?
Now he's contrary to his detriment, hitting and taunting K1, being sneaky-mean to Lambie, he's demanding, having tantrums, yelling at me "RIGHT NOW!!!!!" all the time, he's sullen and says he didn't enjoy treats or outings even when he clearly did, running from me when I tell him to come, screaming in the car, he refuses to do anything I ask him to do and the only things that motivate him are food and TV. In a typical exchange, I'll ask him to get his shoes so we can go to the park. He'll respond that he doesn't want to get his shoes and he doesn't want to go to the park. Then when I say fine, we won't go to the park, he starts demanding to go to the park "right now." It's like this all day long. And he's very strong for his age so it's difficult to force him into the car/into time out or whatever. He acts like "I'm sorry" is a get out of jail free card and he can do whatever to whomever as long as he says he's sorry after.
Also, he's absolutely refusing to toilet. The kid weighs 40lbs and blows out his size 5T pull ups every single day because he's just too big for diapers. He tells me when he's wetting himself, when he's about to poop, when he needs his diaper changed ("CHANGE ME RIGHT NOW!!!!"). He'll make me get up from dinner to take him to the bathroom, then refuse to sit on the toilet only to announce that he's soiled himself the minute I return to my dinner. I've tried making him clean himself and he just says things like "ooohh, this is nice! I like poop!" and makes a big mess all while grinning ear to ear.
I'm sure that some of this is related to becoming a middle child and to K1's making progress this summer. K1 is maturing and has been so pleasant and helpful. Rather than wanting to emulate his brother, which he wanted to do in the past, K2 seems to be resentful that he has been displaced and there is a new rivalry between him and K1 (mostly initiated by K2). He's driving me nuts. What do I do?
I need to re-read it!
In particular, sometimes older kids means stronger personalities and brand new challenges ahead...parenting is an adventure at every turn!
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