I need to be more patient with my 3 yo. Can I have some help please?

[uberalice]

I'm feeling really bad just now. Several times a day I lose my temper with ds2 who's 3. He's a really lovely boy, and not really that naughty, but he's boisterous and often ignores me when I ask him to do something, so I end up asking him nicely about half a dozen times, and then exploding. He then gets upset and I apologise.

It's bothering me that these mixed messages are going to damage his self esteem in the long run as he's quite a sensitive boy. I know his behaviour is normal, and I can't expect anything better of a 3 yo, but I really need to learn to be more tolerant.

Can anybody offer any tips / advice?

Rescue remedy is an alternative remedy made up of flower essences and brandy (yes, really!). You can buy it with a dropper or as a spray. You can get it in Boots and health shops. With the dropper I think you drop 7 drops onto your tongue, with the spray you do 2 sprays on your tongue. The idea is that the flower essences are calming and restorative, check it out here

Of course it could be complete bo**ks, but just the act of going to get it can help!!

Canadian - Anything is worth i try, i will give it a go. Didnt see any mention of the brandy though, just a bunch of flowers. Perhaps i will cut out the flowers and just buy a bottle of brandy to squirt in my mouth, that should do the trick!!!

Milamae - My kids are also aware that time out or the step is NOT a punishment, its time to calm down, defuse the situation and sit and think about how they are behaving and what they could have done differently.