Terrible Twos!!! Feel like calling in Supper Nanny????!!

[Reece]

Ds (2.8) has been difficult since DS2 came along 16 months ago but in the last month his tantrums,tears and stubborness have esculated big time.

Typical morning before 9am - Jumps out cot (refuses to sleep in bed)refuses to use potty, refuses to take off pull-up and PJ's. When downstairs asks for weetabix, serve him with warm milk as asked and then refuses to eat it saying that he wants Special K instead. I say no because he had asked for Weetabix. He then proceeds to throw entire bowl of Weetabix on the floor and rant about Special K. I don't give in and try hard to ignore his tantrum. Still won't use potty, demands TV, I refuse until he uses potty and helps to get dressed and washed etc. He continues to rant and rave for 20 + mins. At this stage we are running late for playschool and DS2 is not washed and dressed etc etc.

I expect there are many of you out there that think this is just intermediate stuff but I just need some guidance on how to deal with it.. I feel myself raging inside but know that will make things worse. He is pushing and pushing me and I know I will burst at some stage.

Last night he refused to stay in his room, kept jumping out of the cot for about 2 hours screaming. He was running all over the house upstairs going through my room etc. I tried the quietly placing him back in bed again and again method (don't know what it's called) but he kept waking DS2. DH and I ended up giving up and going downstairs to leave him to it. i feel like locking him in his room.

How long does the terrible 2's last for? Do they have terrible 3's as well??? Parenting is extremely tiring and frustrating at the moment. I am not enjoying him and can't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Help!!

Haven't posted since Friday so just catching up.
Welcome Justamum Read your post about the DVD etc. I, like mummyluvsyoo, have never out DVD/video away in a cabinet. I think it makes lo's more curious and then more mischievious.

Ds1 doesn't really go anywhere near them anymore. He just learnt that they weren't to be touched. I didn't make a big deal out of it though when he did touch I just said NO and removed him. I am now going through the same thing with DS2 but he has gone off the Video/DVD players. He finds it more fun turning the TV off whilst DS1 is watching cbeebies! Not fun for mummy.

I also use one of those video slot protector things to stop little fingers going in.

The park was lovely but we didn't have any cake

We had a great day yesterday. Out with friends all day and BBQ etc with loads of other kiddies to play with. DS's were exhausted afterwards, came home to a small tea and went to bed really well. DH and I were out to dinner last night which was lovely but I am suffering this morning from tiredness again!!!

DS1 came into our room at 4.45am! Kept having to do rapid return until 6am!

Then at 6am DS2 woke up crying. Managed to settle him and then we all slept in til 9.20am

Why does DS1 keep getting up in the night??? It is so frustrating and tiring for everyone. He is still in his cotbed. Have decided to keep it that way until after our holiday in September and then after a week at home we will take the cot away so he has no choice but to dleep in the bed. Will probably need another holiday after the transition!!!

boys apparently have a testosterone surge at approx 3 years that results in a burst of aggressive behaviour. I've heard that it's impt that Dad does a lot of the parenting at this stage and that the boy gets a lot of physical exercise and controlled rough play.

Not looking FW to this at all.

Highlander that would make a lot of sense.
My DS is always so much better behaved when he has been out getting loads of physical exercise. They really do have an incredible amount of energy to burn off.

Had a great day yesterday. Kept DS1 really busy with playdate/park/granny's house etc.

He was briliant regarding the potty - tol me 3 times that he needed a wee and held on until we found a toilet or used the 'potette'.

Still poo'd on floor but hey we can't win them all.

DS1 was nicely drinking some bottled water on my bedside table this morning and then decided
it would be fun to tip it all over the carpet and my books!

As he is saying sorry so easily these days and I'm getting the feeling that he doesn't really mean it I have taken a pals advice and am getting him to look me in the eyes when he apologises. Will let you know how this one works out.

Anyone else out there?
How was your day?
Good children or naughty children?
I had a mixed day behaviour wise. DS had to be disciplined once for continually picking up sand and throwing it at his friend.

(I now put him on the stairs behind the stairgate for 2 minutes for time out but tbh it still doesn't have much of an effect on him. It gives me time out though).

Other than that occasion he has been quite good. Been brilliant potty wise with no accidents and poo in potty as well

Went to bed no problem and did not do his houdini act tonight

Hi Reece
Ah the joys of potty training. We have just started DS wearing pants during the day - he had been using the potty before bathtimes for a while now. I started with pull ups, but they're not that much different to a nappy really so nursery suggested just to pants. After two poo in pants incidents I'm warming to the idea of pull ups though!

Hi mummyluvsyoo.
Make sure you read some of the potty training threads. They can be really helpful.
DS went cold turkey after 2 days and it made a huge difference. Pants during the day for us was not working and I was banging my head against a brick wall. Let us know how you get on.

Reece.... a quick cut and paste of how my 2 yos have been:

Once upon a bedtime two angelic creatures clasped their milk and said night night.

Their gorgeous mother kissed them and closed the door and went downstairs where she proceeded to clean the kitchen and use MN.

The aforementioned gorgeous mother sent her DD1 to bed. She had stayed up late with permission and because gorgeous mother was on MN and couldn't be arsed to send her before.

A great cry came from upstairs. DD1 was sobbing uncontrollably. The angelic creatures had become candidates for adoption and/or military school. They had broken into the toilet and taken a bottle of toilet duck. They somehow managed to open said bottle and pour the contents all over DD1's bed and carpet. It was clear to gorgeous mother that they had been rolling in it. Their bodies were a pale shade of green. She sniffed their mouths and was reasonably convinced that they hadn't drunk any.

Gorgeous mother was last seen distributing leaflets along the road which said..........

"Darling Twins need new home. Gorgeous boy with chocolate drop eyes and gorgeous girl with same. Beautiful long curls. Love most foods and toilet duck. Please collect immediately!"

The fact that I started a thread, posted on the multiple threads and have repeated here shows how I feel about my wee two just now!

Oh Marslady that is so funny. Toilet Duck!!!!

My DS tried to paint his teeth with mnail polih yesterday! He came into me saying 'yuk mummy'. I couln't believe what he had done. We had to scrub his teeth clean and make sure his lips weren't going to seal together....Hummmmm. Now there's a thought.

FOM you could be right. I never looked at it like that. Putting him behind the stairgate seems to annoy him sometimes and not others. Maybe it is working!!!

I have also been keeping him more entertained with more fresh air etc as well.

He is still attacking DS2 a bit but now that I think about it, its not been so bad the last few days. He is also doing really well with the potty He is not weeing so much which makes me think he has better bladder control. When we go out he asks me if there will be a toilet where we are going or if I have brought the 'special' potty with us. He must be taking control at last A short while ago he told me a poo poo was coming so I rushed him to the potty and got there just in time. The only problem was....... I forgot to pull his pants down

Now its mummy that needs training.

The return to Pre-school is creeping closer and closer so I mention it to him every now and again. He told me yesterday that he doesn't like the ladies there!!!! We bumped into 1 today in Tesco. I was soooo glad he didn't say anything.

Well since we got back from Tesco S had 3 wee accidents!

What has happened? Oh well I'm hoping tomorrow he will be on track again.

No escape from room tonight. Played me up a good bit when I tried to wash and put his PJ's on. He lost a story for this behaviour and was most upset. He got 1 story and kept pushing and pushing to get 2 (the norm). I didn't back down. Hopefully he will have learnt from this when it comes to bedtime routine tomorrow.

There must be something in the air as DS1 woke at 6am and kept coming back into our room every 15 mins or so. Yes it really frustrating. I think as soon as DS sees light through his window he thinks its time to get up.

Going to get a blind to go behind curtains but probably as bit late in the year as ays are drawing in now. Will help next year though

DS2 was awake at 3.30am . DH went in and gave him his soother. He then went back to sleep thank goodness.

DS has been great wee and poo wise today Went into the bathroom this morning, closed the door behind him for privacy and did a big poo. Wiped himself and everything.

I think my lo will keep having the occasional accident for some time to come. When he is tired or distracted he simply forgets and doesn't always care either.

Hope your DD sleeps better tonight FOM. Sorry to hear you had a rough one.

DS pushed his luck a bit this morning with breakfast. He is trying to press all my buttons. He was asking for 2 different cereals and then ened up sitting on my lap eating mine!!!

I don't think children the age of ours really understand the the whole concept of sticker charts. I tried one for a while at the beginning of potty training and it was a novelty sticking them on but it soon wore off and he expected a treat with or without a sticker anyway!

Any golden carrot reward that I dangle for DS has to be on offer pretty quickly after the event or he just doesn't get it. I tried the whole 'when you get 3 stars you get a treat' but it was a waste of time. Instant rewards work best with DS. If I promise the reward of a magazine we go and get it within the next hour or so of him following the rules.

Fish it out of the bin FOM! She may not recognise it in a couple of days time and even if she does at least it hasn't gone to waste.

Would it be worth trying rapid return again FOM even when your boyfriend is there? i'm sure he will understand and it won't go on forever, only for the first week....

Your DD might surprise you and settle well after a couple of nights. I know women that have done it and have said the first few nights are nights of hell but then it pays off in the long run.

Saying that, even though you are not happy with the rope, at least it works. If you want to get rid of it, bin it for good and do rapid return. DD will be confused otherwise.

My DS is great at betimes at the mo. Rarely gets out any more and if he does its normally only once.

I think DS is waking up earlier in the mornings not only because of the light but because he simply doesn't need as much sleep nowadays. He used to sleep until at least 8am religiously. Now its 7am or before but this morning it was 7.30 He had a good run out at the park before bedtime for an hour.

Sorry for long post.

My DS has 2 cereals just the same as your DD! Half and half. It makes me laugh how similar they are. Maybe all toddlers are like this.
(this morning he was looking for a second lot of cereal even though the 2 halves were still in his bowl). They just push and push and push. I am ignoring it as best I can.

As regards your DD and the rope - I'm really sorry I just don't know what to suggest. I wish I could help. Maybe she keeps leaving her room because she feels she is missing out on something. Does she have easy access to you? It sounds like you may have to wait this phase out until she just gets bored. Try not to worry about the rope. We are all going through this at 1 time or another and eventually they all learn When she's all grown up you'll be able to tell her all about her escapades at night!!

Ds has been driving me up the wall today.
tbh I'm not in the best form myself and have serious lack of concentration as well. My patience is also very thin.

I took DS's up to a soft play centre this morning and they loved it. DS1 screamed his head off all the way home though because he wanted a pancake that he found in my bag for moments of emergency hunger! He had already had a snack, a huge breakfast etc etc. If he wants something he justs puts on the water works big time. I didn't back down but it was really hard. His crying and wingeing is so irritating.

I would really love a break from the kids just for an hour or so. I haven't been away from them for even a minute for the last week and I need some me time. DH is away this Saturday and doesn't return home until Sunday. He will probably be tired and hungover on Sunday so won't be capable of taking the boys off my hands for an hour. It's times like this that I really miss my family.

Ok rant over.

Hia everyone, I'm back from mi hols in rainy wales, worse for wear with the family but well rested.

I slept in the tent under stars, in family cabin by the sea, which was lovely,(no not as nice as it sounds with outside privvy, no hot water) although I didn't have to wake up to kid's demands, I woke up all by miself in my own time and the seagulls! 10 hours sleep a night! WOW that was luxury.

Lost my temper big time with in-laws (knew I would) but it made me realise that I must accept help when it's offered. Sister-in-law couldn't believe nobody has taken the twins off our hands for a break since they were born, thats 2.10 without a break, no wonder I snapped.

Anyway glad to be home, but not looking forward to the sleep deprivation all over again.

Sorry you've had a bad day reece, sounds like ya need a dose of camping 'ALONE'

I have scanned the thread and you've been giving out some sound advice.

Post you again soon, having another early night, left kid's with dh downstairs,

Welcome back Sleepysooz. Sounds like you had a great time. Good for you. You deserve it.
10hrs uninterrupted sleep sounds absolute bliss to me right now. caould definately do with some camping 'alone' time

My day was exhausting as you probably picked up from previous post. DS potty training went completely out the window . It seems that whenever I make posts on MN about how well behaved and brilliantly my DS is doing with the potty training, things then fall apart. I am jinxed! He had accident after accident today
I wasn't fussed about the poo in pants episode but 3 pairs of trousers before 11am is a bit testing!

He seems to have forgotten where the potty is!!!!!

He must be extra extra hyper hyper sensitive to my moods or something. When I am tired and nagging him he just loses all control.

Took him out for a long play on park before bedtime and he ws excellant with getting bathed, dressed etc. He also stayed in his cot. He was too wacked out to misbehave

Fingers crossed tomorrow is a better day.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargggggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!@@@@

There that's better

Are you having a bad one mummyluvsyoo?