Reply to Really struggling with my 2 yr old

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Honestly, 2.5 hours with you each evening is not enough bonding time at this stage.  Your child might be telling you in her own 2-year old way (the new found sense of independence) that she is not happy with something.  There isn’t a whole lot you can do if you can’t change the daily schedule.  The key is to not let it get to you personally and continue to be patient and calm.

At this stage the kids are feeling their boundaries (as they will do from here onwards) and learning the consequences of their actions/inactions.  If they push and succeed, they will push more not understanding that something isn’t for them to push.  Set very clear expectations (create a big chart w stickers) and stand firm.  You are doing the right to big by giving some choices.  If she picks none, then you get to decide.  That should be made very clear to her.

On the reward and “punishments” (I dislike this word, hence the quotes), don’t use spending time with you as leverage.  You don’t want her to associate negative emotions w spending time with you.  If she doesn’t want to bath, shower, or hose her down (now that the weather is warmer) in the yard.  Make it fun as if you are at the beach or the pool.  I used to just wipe my DD’s hair down w a wet towel if she didn’t want to wash her hair.  We pretended she was at the salon and getting her hair toweled and wrapped.  She loved it because it would weigh her head down and she would rabble.  We all have a good laugh and I would wait to give that hair a good wash a day or two later.

Pick your battles, I would take sitting down to read a book or play cars and horses (my DD’s favorite) as a bedtime routine.  The hygiene part is just a quick detour before we get to that bedtime routine.  Framing these routine in the way she could accept was my big breakthrough.

I feel for you and remember as other posters pointed out, this (phase) shall pass.   Good luck.

- mom to two teens (15 & 18)

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BS. I'm a SAHM to a 2 year old and guess what? She's a nightmare at the end of the day too and has just gotten 12 hours of my individual attention. 
Since your kids are much older I will kindly suggest you probably don't remember what this stage is like and keep your mom shaming to yourself. [/quote]

I am so sorry that you are frustrated as a SAHM.  I have no intention to mom sham anyone during any stage of their motherhood experience.  On the other hand, you are mom shaming me as someone who is not qualified to share my parenting experiences since my kids are now too old.  Ironic isn't it.  It is ok.  Parenthood is not an easy road that comes with exact instructions.  No one can prepare you for the emotional rollercoaster ride.  You are probably in one of those foggy valleys that you can see past your nose.  Majority of the time, everything will clear up and you will be in a different mode and mood.  Your relationship with your child will go through many twist and turns.  This is just one of those stops.

As I said in my post, 2 year old tantrums are these mini-people's way of trying to tell us something, be it they are in pain due to teething, or that they are overtired, over stimulated, or they really don't want to keep eating strawberries as a snack, or wear that certain pajama pants, etc.  Your child could be telling you something or try to express him or herself.  The evening hours are usually the most challenging.  I remember my 2 year old having night terrors EVERY SINGLE night for 5 years straight after over stimulation during the day. We finally figure out the rhyme of when she would bolt up and stare blankly into space while screaming, and had to readjust her schedule to figure out just the right amount of downtime during the day to ease (simply not able to prevent) these episodes.  Trust me, you just want to pull your hair out in that moment watching her going through that.  My other one had reflux for the first 2 years and couldn't keep food down.  YES, I remember all of it and I miss them even during those moments.  It was a trying journey, but we were on it together.

So please breath and read these board with a positive attitude, taking what might work for you and leave the rest.  Your resentment and frustration will show and kids are very astute.

Good luck....
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:roll: [/quote]

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