Please help! I'm exhusted

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

Ds 3 in November.

Major tantrums all day today. Been out and about at an outdoor event. Had a major 1/2 hour tantrum as a ride he was on finished, I had to peel him off and as he was hysterical running back to the ride, I had to put him in the pushchair. He kicked and screamed really loudly and wouldn't calm down very embarrising. Why do older people always comment!!!??

All day he was cross as he couldn't stay on one thing or another and wouldn't sit down for lunch.

He refused breatfast this morning, refused lunch this afternoon and eat about 2 spoon fulls of tea - IMO this really makes his behaviour worse.

How nornal is this - should I be worried?
How do I deal with it??
How can I get him to sit down for meals when out and about??

AH!!!!!!!!!!

I have no advice for you, but some solidarity, if that helps.

Ds2 is 3 in November. He is normally a happy, very energetic bundle of laughs. But recently he has become a little monster. When thwarted he will smack and hit both DH and me, he has bitten me on several occasions and will burst into tears over nothing. Well, it seems like nothing to us- obviously to him being refused an extra repeat viewing of Thomas the Tank Engine is a major catastrophe in his little world. He has also become very clingy, especially to me.

It's exhausting, frankly- but I do believe he'll grow out of it. I find tiredness makes it a lot worse- he's trying to drop his nap, he's potty training and has recently been promoted to a bed from his cot. It's a lot for a small person to process, really.

I also found out at the dentist that he's been cutting a back molar, which might explain a lot.

As for sitting to eat a meal- well, we get about ten minutes before he starts wriggling around trying to get down.

Like you say, it makes for very tiring days. But I dimly recall that ds1 was exactly the same (he's now 14) and it does pass.

Hang on in there. Check for teething, tiredness, new experiences and keep syaing to yourself......

.... This too will pass.

Good luck.

hes three.

three year olds dont sit down for meals.

i think this is more about structuring your activities to lessen the stress.

for instance - i used to like big grassy areas preferably with a hill

tell the kids to run down it, roll down it and then watch them come back up.

butties in a bag, no old bastards to comment

kids end up tired, i get a cup of coffee from flask in peace.

Thank god I'm not alone!

I think my best moment today was finally getting him in the pushchair whilst he was kicking like a donkey and throwing his shoes across the field, then his socks.....he was being ignored for time out only for an old man to go over to him and return his shoes and say to him "what a lovely sprit you have son"

Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DS 4.5 used to have upto 20 tantrums a day,if he woke happy in the morning you knew the day would be good....oh,but if he woke up shouting, crying ,screaming....it would carry on until bed time.
We went on for months like this until the start of the summer hols, it is like having a new child. DS is happy, contented and eating like a horse.
DS didn't used to eat for days and then only boiled eggs ( not joking ), I went for weeks only taking him places where I wouldn't know anyone and avoided birthday parties like the plague all because of his behavior and my inability to control it.
IT WILL GET BETTER

Sounds very, very normal! Ds1, now four, was just like this and is only recently calming right down. Feel like I can take him places now and enjoy his company a lot more.

Ds2, almost two, is just starting to get like this and I'm sure I have lots of fun to come, but not stressed out this time round cos I know it's normal!

Well I do have a tip for getting them to sit down for dinner at a restaurant actually.

I have an emergency bag with all DD's favourite toys(not too big or loud) and when she looks like she's going to play up(usually 2 mins after we've sat down)I just bring them out 1 by 1 so you have lots of back up. Toys which she can use her imagination. Example, little figures with tables which can be gradually added to to create some sort of scene.

He's at that age though when he should be understanding things like "if you don't sit and eat your dinner there wont be any pudding..........tv when you get home etc. Whatever is his favourite thing to do or eat.

Really hope some of this helps. I'm sure you've probably tried the no pudding etc tactic but thought i'd say anyway, just in case.

Good luck :)