(no subject)

[wildflowersoul]

Oh my goodness. West has been trying my last nerve lately. I feel like such a bad mom, I only get 3 hours a day with him and most of that time is spent trying to contain tantrums, hitting, and fussing, and enforcing such horrors as “we have to brush your teeth” and “eat some dinner, for the love of all that’s holy, it’s beige food and fruit, just eat it.”

I don’t know if it’s being 2 and a half, he’s not getting enough nutrition (or too much sugar) because of crazy toddler pickiness, winter cabin fever and lack of enough exercise, being stuck in a daycare room that he is really ready to grow out of, or me just lacking parenting skills. If I knew the cause I could work on a solution!

Comments

[tenillypo.livejournal.com]

Ah, hon.Try all of the above -- except for you lacking parenting skills. They don't call it the terrible twos for nothing. Not your fault; just something you have to live through. *hugs*

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

Thanks, lady. Being a parent is so much harder than I ever thought it would be.

[kayranord.livejournal.com]

Trying to find the cause is probably the hardest part of parenting, IMNSHO.

He's 2 1/2? Welcome to the Disequilibrium of Age Two. When the underlying causes become a little more complicated than "HALT" (Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired).
I ADORE this article for helping me understand developmental cycles: http://www.gesellinstitute.org/pdf/DevelopmentalPOV.pdf
In short... you're not a bad parenting, his behavior isn't a result of bad parenting, his behavior now isn't at all an indication of what kind of older child or adult he will be and... this shall pass.

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is a super helpful article!! Thanks! It's kind of amazing how accurately that tracks with how West has been, 18 months he was totally crazy, 2 years he was sweet as pie. I'd gotten so used to my happy adorable little dude. Now he's totally 2 and a half.

[kayranord.livejournal.com]

Glad it helped! Sadly, 2 1/2 is just practice for 3 1/2. But 4 1/2 is much easier and 5 even more so. 6 has been fabulous so far - other than some really serious "OMG my baby is a real 'kid' now" heartwrenchers. We've told Lauren it's against the rules for her to get bigger... she keeps breaking it though. ;-)

[mrs-muffin.livejournal.com]

2 1/2 to 4 was THE WORST. I mean, so far. There's still time. You're not a bad parent. And if you can figure out what causes a screaming tantrum about the wrong damn sippy cup, I'll give you $100. I suppose it just boils down to wanting more control over their environment, but they sure know how to make everyone lose their marbles in the process. My advise is to count the minutes until bedtime, pour yourself some wine, and know that it gets better eventually.

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

Hee. I don't know why he can make me so crazy with the fussiness, I wish I could let it roll off me. Then again, I guess he's my kid and all and it makes sense that he would be super uptight about everything. Oh, genetics. On the plus side, he actually was pretty awesome tonight and actually ate dinner without too much hassle (we gave up on the pretense of a nice family dinner and let him have a picnic on the floor, I'd rather let him eat on the floor than have to listen to half an hour of whining).

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

Oh man. Ive heard about this happening at 2.5 and weds finitely have some of it starting. We've buckled down on discipline after a pretty serious incident and it has helped. If something is not allowed, it's not allowed, period. But the annoyances of choosing a cup are not something I'm willing to fight against either. It's so aggravating after a stressful day at work.

Luckiy our little man had become SUPER affectionate and his constant hugs pretty much make everything okay.

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I try to pick my battles because otherwise we'd be fighting about everything. He has just started doing the conflicted choices thing- first he wants something, then he doesn't, then he does, on repeat.

Awww, the hugs do make everything ok.