Independant 2.4 year old advice needed

[laughalot]

Hi I wondered if I could have some advice please I have a ds who is 2.4 years and I am 34 weeks pg with my second baby, I have a very independant litle boy who has a fit if he cant get his own way he wants to do eveything himself im suprised he hasnt started cooking his own dinner yet on a serious note though things take even longer because he is trying to do it himself and if we try and help he starts screaming the place down and says NO that is his favourite word at the moment. I hink when baby arrives he will help me out alot and im sure im very hormonal at the moment being pg and tired but im at the end of my teather with him and find myself shouting alot and then bursting into tears because iv shouted at him. I dont drive so taking him out and about at the moment is limited as I have to walk everywhere last time I took him to playgroup he was so naughty I ended up leaving early feeling rather embarressed and it makes me feel like I dont want to take him places because I cant control him especially being pregnant aswell.

I sympathise completely as also have a very independant DS!

I have found that when I'm in a hurry or really need him to cooperate with me I give him a few choices, that way he is still being independant and feels like he is in control but it gets things done quicker. So for example "you can wear your blue shoes or your black shoes". I also make a game out of things I know might pose a problem, so identify the things that always cause you to loose your patience and devise a strategy that might help avoid the problem. For us it was always putting his coat on to leave the house, so he is obsessed with cars and prettending he is a car, so his coat became the body of his car that obviously had to be put on before he could go driving out of the house! His hat is the roof of the car and his shoes are the wheels.

They can all be trying at this age, you are not alone in finding it hard and not wanting to take him places, especially being pg! Don't be embarrassed about his behaviour at playgroup, I'm sure everyone there is used to it!

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