Anyone else feel like they're making a big fat mess of this??!?

[Belle]

Yep, i know really it's normal and def normal for him - think it's just the combo of it in one go when it's just me this weekend that has driven me to distraction a bit. But v good to hear other's tales - and how to deal with it too! He is starting at childminder soon and I was worrying about things like fact he won't wear wellies - so nice to know others are uncooperative too!

[Fuschia]

You will prob find the minder can persuade him, years of experience.. plus it's us the mums they like to wind up!!

I recommend you stay indoors, share a bath together, watch TV all day and eat chips! Always works for us!

[The Nappy Lady]

Belle - sorry to hear you're having a bad weekend. My hubby was away all last week & most of the weekend either side and there were some real low points at times. It is so hard when you don't have anyone else to share the care with (or even just sigh or laugh with about it later). I take my hat off to all single parents.

I've taken my eldest out without coat or boots once too - she never refused again!

Hang in there.

[Fuschia]

Few weeks ago M tore the buggy raincover off in a deluge and wouldn't let me replace it. So i trudged from GG to JoJo and popped in to the shelter. The staff were cooing over M asking if I needed a cloth to dry her... I must have sounded really mean when i said.. no, don't bother, it's her own fault! T was wet too, and he wasn't even at fault.

[Belle]

You'd think they'd hate to get so wet! My wee boy was soaked yesterday after trip to Sainsbury's to buy alternative wellies (some success with Thomas ones, progress...)

Thanks ladies, you cheered me up. We made it through the day, am now enjoying a second glass of chilled white wine :)-D

[crystal7]

E will eat steamed veg, have her face wiped, nappy changed,shoes on, raincover on for the childminder but none of those things for me! Don't bother with Maclaren raincover anymore but everyone must think what an awful mother I am letting my child get wet...

[TillieTrotter]

My children are 13,15 and 21 now so I don't really belong in here but I'd just like to say how lovely this thread is. The support you give each other is amazing and no doubt incredibly comforting. Well done ladies (and gents).

[kristymac1]

TillieTrotter Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My children are 13,15 and 21 now so I don't really

> belong in here but I'd just like to say how lovely

> this thread is. The support you give each other

> is amazing and no doubt incredibly comforting.

> Well done ladies (and gents).

On the contrary - most of us are looking towrads those more experienced in this game than us (relatively) newbies (my daughter is 3.5 and I still feel like I'm tripping over my own feet some days....). At least you're still here to tell the tale!! x

[snowboarder]

I'd forgotten about this thread!! Amazingly looking back I think 15 months compared favourably with 18 months and the escalating tantrums and scarily strong will that is developing. Shoes on? NO!!!!! Coat? NO!!!! All meals involve some sort of battle and kitchen needs industrial clean afterwards. Bath? Won't get in then won't get out...etc... Truly exhausting.

[Ko]

my little one is only 10 mths old and has already perfected the art of lying face down on the floor, hands over eyes and thumping his little legs up and down - oh dear!

[The Nappy Lady]

My experience of this (with great knowledge now I've done it twice!! :-S) is that 2nd time around the tantrums are much, much easier to ignore/be chilled out about.

It is all about control, and also getting your attention. These days I almost always just put her down and walk away. Within moments she's usually coming to me, saying sorry and doing what I wanted her to do in the first place without any problems. It doesn't always work, but I'd say I have an 85% success rate with this approach. I really wasn't brave or confident enough first time around and pandered a lot more, and in the end it just drags the tantrum out for longer. When I know she's very tired, or genuinely upset I find diversion works best - for examply if she's saying "No" about doing something - say going in the bath - rather than get into a dialogue about why she needs to get in etc. I will just ignore what she's saying and do something like getting a favourite doll and putting it in and saying "ooooh, dolly what a lovely bath you're having, shall I wash your bottom now" etc. etc.....next thing I know C will be there saying "My Dolly, I do it" or similar having forgotten all about the battle she was gearing up for.

The thing I HATE is when I'm in the kitchen trying to get breakfast done pre school run, or dinner out the way etc. and she starts holding my legs and whining for a cuddle/carry etc. The other day I said "I don't like that noise, if you're going to cry go and sit in the hall" and bless her if she didn't go and sit on the bottom step of the stairs and have a good cry....(making me feel awful of course). Still, food on the table soon after and I called her and offered a cuddle, dried her eyes, and 2 minutes later she was sitting up and eating dinner as happy as larry.

Such mood swings in quick succession, it is hard to know if you're coming or going sometimes isn't it. Terrible 2's definitely start at about 18 months in my opinion, and they are exhausting. All I can say is.....they do come out the other side....my lovely 6 year old is proof of that (most of the time)!

[Fuschia]

Yes Molly, i ignore so much and don't feel like tantrums cause us problemns.. it's mostly down to attitude

[Pickle]

I agree Molly. First time round admittedly I had it pretty easy with a chilled out son (although at 3.5 he's now pushing me to my limits), but I did find his occasional tantrums hard to deal with. Daughter is a lot more feisty and tantrums are a very regular occurrence but I just ignore. She generally sorts herself out, comes up to me and says "I stopped cwying now Mummy" and is happy once again. Goodness only knows what goes on in a 2 year old's head!