Do I Have to Get Up?

We are officially in the throes of the terrible two’s. Hello screaming “No!”, spitting, hitting, and just plain being nasty. Goodbye sweet boy! I am sorry but the terrible two’s are just not welcome here. They need to leave…soon (but I hear that 3 is worse than 2. How is that possible?).

We have exhausted just about every discipline technique we know of.

We have tried:

  • Timeouts ~ work most of the time but end up with E screaming for 20 minutes afterwards
  • Counting ~ The “1, 2, 3” thing used to work. Now when we get to 2, E yells 3! He thinks he is just so cute.
  • Redirecting ~ The redirecting usually ends in a power struggle and with everyone frustrated.
  • Take a Rest ~ When E is really worked up, I’ll sit him on the couch or lay him down and try to get him to just calm down, or work it out. Sometimes he is just too far gone with the tantrum that there is no sense in trying to reason with him. This approach again usually lasts about 20 minutes with constant screaming and crying.
  • Go to Bed ~ This is a last resort. I don’t want E to associate his room with being punished. But sometimes, the kid is just too tired and needs to take a nap.

But lately, all it takes is for the hubster to say “Do I have to get up?” and that kid immediately starts doing whatever it is he’s supposed to be doing. It gets his attention. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work when I say it. He just laughs at me. I’m convinced this kid thinks I’m either a) a pushover, 2) a softy, or iii) both. And maybe I am…a little.

The hubster has always said that he was going to be the good guy and I would be the disciplinarian. Boy was he wrong! I was afraid that since he wanted to be the good guy, or “best buddy”, that I would be stuck being the Meaniest Mom on the Earth. And who really wants to have that crown?

Although, ask him when he’s about 13 and I’m sure I would win that contest hands down.

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2 Comments

  1. My son skipped the terrible two's. He had the terrible 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. When I mean terrible I mean getting kick out of 3 schools for his behavour. It wasn't till he turned 8 that he finally started to calm down. I feel for you and hope all you have to deal with is the terrible two's. I don't wish it any longer on anyone else.

  2. My son also skipped the terrible two's. I thought I was so lucky, then he turned 3 and it hasn't stopped yet and he just turned 9. Although he is good in school, his behavior can be terrible at home and in public. It has to end soon!!

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