OT - Terrible Twos

[lilybrooke14]

I'm sorry, this is just a vent. I'm just so tired of dealing with this today. The plan for the day was, go play outside (it's beautiful here), wander over and return a DVD to the Redbox close by, bake Halloween Funfetti cupcakes with DD, order Jackolantern pizza from the local Papa Murphy's, and then go trick or treating this evening.

All I've done today is deal with my kid. All day. Nonstop. She's screamed and cried so much, I keep waiting for the neighbors to come over or call CPS. I really need a break from her. She's not just being rotten, she's being mean. She's intentionally hurt the kitty (grabbing his fur/skin), and done the same thing to the dog. She got in big trouble for that. Then, when I told her I had to go to the bathroom before we went outside to play, she went into the kitchen and ripped the face off of the pumpkin we carved last night. She made sure to come and tell me "I ripped Mickey's face off". She was quite proud of herself. And it's just gone on and on.

I just don't know what to do. We haven't made it outside to play yet, because although I know she needs to blow off some energy, I feel like it's rewarding her when she's been so naughty all day. Right now she's in an extended time out in her room with the baby gate up. She's finally stopped crying and started playing with her toys, but I really needed a break for a little bit. I feel like I'm doing something wrong because she's been so mean spirited today. I don't have any family or friends close by that can take her for a little bit, and I could really use that right now. That and a little advice on what to do.

Anyway, thanks for listening. Once we both settle down, I'll take her out and run her around until she collapses from exhaustion.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

My son is 20 months old and we certainly have those days. Putting her in her room for a while is probably the best thing you could have done. She's safe in there, you can still check on her, but it gives you a break and IF she's doing this for attention it takes that attention away from her. Is she overtired? Maybe she'll take a nap in there and could wake up in a completely different mood!

The only thing I would caution against is just make sure something isn't wrong. I certainly know kids can act this way "just because" but I often find when it gets really bad or goes on for more than just 1/2 a day or a full day there is often an underlying cause. My oldest son was prone to sinus infections. They weren't always obvious (runny nose, stuffy, fever, etc). Some of them were way back in his sinuses and hard to detect. I remember taking him to the Dr once and just saying "Look, I know I can't bring him in here for behavior problems, but this is how he acts when he is sick and I just have this feeling." My Dr's reaction "That's perfectly fine - you definitely know him better than anyone so let's check him out" Diagnosis - another sinus infection!

Good luck. My youngest is typically very laid back and silly - although he does have an attitude if something doesn't go his way. We recently went through a long period of him acting the way your DD is acting today. Difference is we knew he was sick (cold/virus, congestion drained into the ear and caused an ear infection, then went into bronchitis). We knew what the problem was for him, but it didn't make it much easier to deal with! It's very nerve wracking and sometimes the best thing to do is put them in a safe place (crib, their room, etc) and walk away for a bit. I hope your day improves and you are able to enjoy halloween!

 

[melancholywings]

I'd put her in her room and let her cry it out - while you take a break. Maybe she'll be like my DD was and she just needs a good fit to get it out of her system, DD would then fall asleep or play by herself then wake up to be a sweet angel as though nothing ever happened.

To cheer you up I thought I'd share.^^
We were at the zoo with some friends and their child. DD was just a baby and was sleeping in her stroller, my friends DS was two and being a handful of trouble. We were sitting on the grass when her DS did something naughty that made me giggle, and she shot back 'Just you wait in 2 years this will be you!'. Just then a woman comes by dragging a screaming and kicking 4 year old. So I responded 'And think in 2 years that will be you!'.

 

[lilybrooke14]

Thanks guys. She does have a cold right now, and I'm sure that's not helping. She's out of jail now, and she's doing a little better. I think we both need a nice long walk and then a nap, so that's the game plan now.

Thanks again. We just got back from Disney this past weekend, and her behavior has been somewhat worse since we came home. I'm thinking part of it's just Disney detox. She really took to the whole "I'm a princess" way of thinking, and I fear she thinks she actually is a little princess, and fully expects me to treat her that way. It's mommy's job to remind her that although she's my princess, she's not a real one, and she's certainly not going to get away with acting like that.

Besides, at this moment, she's behaving far more like one of the ugly stepsisters.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Sorry for your day!! We've all been there. I bet she is still tired from Disney. When my kids were two, it always took them awhile to get back to a normal routine. Hopefully a nap will help!

Good luck!

 

[bellebud]

well, don't feel too bad. My ds7 isn't going trick-or-treating tonight, because of his 'naughty' behavior. I'm broken hearted over it, but I have to stick to my guns. My dd and I are going, and ds will stay home w/ dh. Parenting is certainly difficult (to say the least) sometimes, isn't it?!?

 

[inloveindisney]

You sound like me. We just returned from Disney, so my daughter's schedule is a little off anyway and she also has a cold. She came home from the sitters today and screamed and cried for about an hour. She let me hold her at one point and she layed in my shoulder so I took her up and turned on her "night night" music and the vaporizer and let her lay in bed for a little while (about 30 minutes). She felt a little better after that, but cried the whole time I put her in her costume. Then, once we got outside with all the other kids, she seemed fine.
Sometimes I have also found that when she starts acting out like that, she really just needs attention, so if I take even just 5 minutes out to sit in the floor with her and read some books/stack some block/play with the animals, she's fine the rest of the night. It's as if she just neeeds some extra special attention and once she gets it, she's fine. I have usually tried to do this as soon as I bring her home every day, but I've not been so good about it the last few.
It's definitely getting interesting at our house, but we're slowing figuring out little tricks here and there. Luckily she likes to sit in her bed and chill so that is a life saver every once in a while.

 

[inloveindisney]

I've decided I'm going to call it Post Disney Stress Syndrome. Hmm. I might be experiencing it myself. Where's my Dole Whip? And what about my Mickey Ice Cream Bar? I WANT TO GO RIDE DUMBO!!! AAAAAAKKKK!!!

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

I just wanted to tell you I know how you feel. This is definitely not my favorite age!