Hellobee Boards

@illumina: I saw you already commented on my recent similar post, so you know we are going through the same thing. It is so frustrating! And ours is couple with a massive mommy preference/ daddy rejection. I have no suggestions beyond what people have been telling me on the other thread, but I'm trying to listen to the Unruffled podcast from Janet Lansbury when I have time. C recently had tantrums because I ate a banana- I offered her one if she wanted but she just didn't want me to eat one (NOOOOOO MOMMY! You CAN'T eat the banana!) and because I didn't give her the bite of chicken that I had just swallowed (the same exact chicken she had four pieces of on her plate). I had been starting to think she needed a psychiatrist or something until I read all the similar posts. 2 is freaking hard.

Our 2.5 year old has the same type of triggers. We have been choosing our battles and basically if it's not dangerous or disgusting, we just give in to her most of the time. There were a few things that were triggering tantrums every single day - she always wanted the same blue cup and the same pink socks and she'd freak if they were dirty, so I just went and bought more. She used to cry for snacks all the time, so DH and I decided to just let her have them whenever she asks, but now we only stock the house with healthy stuff (so she snacks on fruit and veggies all day).

For some of the really nonsensical tantrums, we sort of let her get the frustration out for awhile, then we hug it out and try to distract her with something else.

She doesn't tantrum nearly as much these days, which is great. I do worry sometimes that she is getting spoiled, but we definitely don't let her run wild (I put my foot down for anything that could be dangerous or for behavior that is rude or gross). I definitely end up just hand washing spoons that are in the dishwasher every so often, but so far it's been worth it for some extra peace.

@Cherrybee: we were just talking this morning about how she can switch and be perfectly happy and pleasant in a second. Tears are still running down her face and she is smiling and cooperating, meanwhile I'm still huffing and trying to calm myself down.

This mornings huge tantrum was brought on by DH wanting to change her poopy diaper. That's a surefire trigger, but the alternative is me changing every single one, and her waiting with a poopy diaper while I feed the baby (which is what happens during the week anyway). It's infuriating.

Her smaller tantrum was over this cardboard box starting to break. She likes standing on it but on its side it isn't strong enough, so I said, be careful, that box is starting to break. Cue meltdown. "It's NOT starting to break!!!!!!" Sigh.

We walk on eggshells a lot too. I think it's totally normal. Can I turn this light on? Should I got down the stairs before him? What if I try to give him his lunch in the blue bowl?

It's total insanity.

I can't say I have dealing with it figured out. At times it really depends on his mood as to how to deal with it.

We have tried time outs and he flips his shit and just tries to crawl all over me all hysterical. We have tried putting him in his room and again he just freaks out and comes out and tries to crawl all over me. I have tried talking him through them and that's not usually successful. We have ignored them and he just tries to crawl all over me.

Haha it's kinda weird! The daycare says he's so well behaved as well. He rarely has a bad day. Lol

So.... E has just headbutted DH because her pizza wasn't ready yet.

@deerylou: Hahaha!

Well I'm glad I just came across this thread. I'm so frustrated and I feel like I'm more easily angered because I'm pregnant. I've been choosing our battles carefully but things like taking his shoes off or not getting the goldfish snack in the Costco checkout have completely turned him into a wild monster, screaming, crying and kicking. I don't know what to do because I don't want to spank in public. Then I feel like I'm the worlds meanest mommy when I decide to leave and force him into his car seat while he's screaming and I spank his hand. I feel like dicipline is very needed at the time of the tantrum but most the time it can't be done. I was starting to think his behavior wasn't normal but the more I look, apparently it is and it makes me even more nervous because I have a new baby coming. Gosh terrible 2's and 3's may be the biggest challenge I've ever had to work though!