Warning: Brutally honest parenting post lies ahead.
I completely lost my shit this weekend several different times with Cameron. I am not alone because DH did as well (we seem to trade off being the "calm" one) but it is making me feel like a parenting failure.
Cameron just won't listen. She also displays Jekyll and Hyde tendencies which doesn't help things. Perhaps if she was being a little brat all the time I could handle it. But she swings widely from happy, helpful child to willful, screaming, crying beast.
We can't take Cameron out for more than 15-20 minutes or a tantrum will result. I feel like any of the progress we've made over the past year has disappeared. The thing that really drives me batty is that Cameron knows better. She is old enough, verbal enough and cognizant enough to understand that she is being bad.
I feel like I tell her to do things fifteen hundred times before she'll do it. She just doesn't freaking listen. And yes, I wanted to use the non-PC word in that previous sentence but I'm trying to increase my willpower. We were in Target yesterday and I told Cameron that I was sick of her shit. Yup, I swore at my child. I then bodily picked her up and carried her out of the store and threw her in her car seat. And of course, because I wouldn't let her buckle her own belt I had to hear Cameron piss and moan and cry all the way home. Which was an excruciating 15 minutes.
I'm kind of at my wits end because I feel like this behavior has just kind of sprung on us the past few weeks and I am not handling it well. None of my normal parenting tactics: reasoning, time outs, bribery seem to be working. So, any advice for me? Or commiseration? At least tell me this is just a phase!?!
Cameron being helpful in one of her increasingly rare "nice" period.
We see this expression a lot. Cameron saying "no", sneer of disdain on her face.
This might be the photo I use when put up a "For Sale" sign for her. Kidding. Kind of.
6 comments:
Yep, 2.5 sucks serious ass.
I would recommend Your Two Year Old: Terrible or Tender so you can see it's normal. Terrible but normal.
I would also recommend WINE!
2.5 is tough no question. With Ned we did LOTS and LOTS of 1-2-3 timeouts. In his room. Until he calmed down. That's when we added in the lock, he learned to climb out of his crib, etc. I figured if I was going to lose my shit I should just put him in his room alone and go on about my day. Penny we did that too sometimes but she really wasn't as hard. We also limited to one activity a day and increased playdates - because my kids are better around other kids. This is when it helps to have 3 kids - nothing seems that bad when you have 3. :)
P.S. I heard that 3 was 2 WITH INTENT (maybe Laura C?) so I'm waiting for that to hit.
The halves are always worse than the wholes. Seriously. 1.5, 2.5, 3.5...BAD. Terrible twos, thunderous threes. It is a phase, but it changes and you have to change your tactics at all times. And the no listening part - well welcome to the world for the rest of us. I have two little boys and a husband who don't listen at all.
Totally a phase. I recommend chocolate and a baby gate for her room. Plus, the ability to put all the toys in one bin and remove the 'ammo' for throwing things (an issue we have at times) when they're in a pissy mood.
And wine. And a lockable bathroom (for yourself).
So, any advice for me? Or commiseration? At least tell me this is just a phase!?!
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Its just a phase.
I also won't tell you that I swear 3yo was worse. (Sorry).
If it helps I think you did the right thing when you plunked her in the car seat, buckled the belt and let her "piss and moan" all the way home.
My theory being you cannot reason with terrorists or toddlers - or both will win.
If it helps I have been there and done that and let me shine a little light on this particular parenting tunnel - my kids are 12 and 14 and while still having their moments ('cause they are human and MINE after all so perfection is not to be) - we get compliments on what lovely people they are ALL THE TIME.
Lose you sh#$ today for a well-behaved and happy child tomorrow. :)
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