Where has my good boy gone??! Ds (2.4) has had a personality change. Any ideas why?

[boo64]

Ds is 2.4 and has had his challenges but has always been a really good boy - compliant, eager to please and not often naughty.

We went on holiday last week and he started to be a little more challenging but since we've been back (Sunday) he just seems like a different child to how he was pre-holiday.

Examples from this morning (stuff he would never have done before) - he was jumping around in his highchair to make it move around even though I said not to a load of times and tried all my usual tricks with him which no longer seem to work. Ignores me and just laughs

• has pulled my hair and pinched me
• grabbed my glasses and when I said no sternly he just did it again

He used to hate upsetting me and now seems to find it funny. Have tried ignoring him too when naughty.

I have two questions:

• why the change -is it just a normal part of growing up? Testing me etc?

Or could it be something else e.g. tiredness post holiday? Will this go away and he'll return to being good most of the time?!?

• what to do about it - most people have built up methods of dealing with 'naughty' behaviour by now but to be honest bar a few little tricks and ways of pushing his buttons we didn't need to.

It's cos he's 2. They're effectively trying to establish their personalities and finding boundaries.
It could be that he got out of his usual routine on holiday and is acting up at you trying to get him back into it.
We talk sternly to DS (just 2), shout (not very loudly, more tone of voice) and then try distraction. If that doesn't work we remove him from what he is doing.

Ahhh the personality thief strikes again! DS's was removed and replaced with a far inferior personality about a month ago (he's 2.6)

His new favourite sentences are
"No, I'm not doing that" to absolutely everything

and "back off"

ignoring and naughty step are helpful

Iklboo I guess what has confused me is that he was 2 the week before last but was such a good boy and the change is so sudden!
He was pretty much in routine last week on holiday so probably not that. Ideas I have include - he was tired on holiday and so stroppier and more challenging and then thought 'hey this is fun, let's carry on' (well maybe he didn't quite think that but you know what I mean!)

Yep looks like we're going to have to try the naughty step but I think he will just laugh.

Connortraceptive - I love your name!

He might be sickening for something. But then my DD must be sickening for the same thing. IT does seem to happen very quickly. Her favourite thing at the moment is "go away mummy" this actually really upsets me. She is aggressive too, and my word can that child punch! and bite, and kick. Just this morning she went into bathroom to see DP who was cleaning his teeth. She burst into hysterical crying which to me sounded like DP had removed favourite toy or removed her from something, but too quick - turned out to be because DP was cleaning his teeth and she wanted to do it. She also will not let me do anything with her if "darling daddy" is around. Or anyone else for that matter, anyone but me - im not a shouty mummy but i might be by the end of this week.

ITS A PHASE, ITS A PHASE, ITS A PHASE

Both my boys were the same when they were 2.
He'll be good again when he's 4. In the meantime, you have to just grin and bear it.

I'll swop you a 3.1yo ds.

He is a demon who will cover you in snot and screa, the place down repeatedly because you won't give him sharp knives to play with. He likes to throw things, yell, punch and kick.

A change is a good as a rest

I've had some success with gold stars for good behaviour. When he gets five he can have a special treat, but if he's naughty he gets one taken away. Just the threat of losing a star is enough sometimes to stop the naughtiness.

Lucyellensmum - shall we just shove them in a room together, shut the door and go and get a cup of tea!?? (Message to social services in case they are reading this: I AM JOKING)

He has always been such a sweetie and apart from a minor pinching thing has never been aggressive (whiny yes but not aggressive) or destructive.
If I'd been eased in gently to this I'd be better able to deal with it I think!!

Dh thinks it's the weather getting ds down after all the sun on holiday!! Toddler behaviour due to seasonal affective disorder....I think not.

He being DS2 who's now 3.5.

Thanks - fell pregnant about a month after changing to this name

I kept thinking "ooh maybe he's ill" I checked his temp every day for a week until I resigned myself to that fact that he's just being a git - sigh-

boo64, a cup of tea?? Are you mad!! make mine a large brandy and im there The dog can babysit and we can give them the number of childline just in case they get desperate

Maybe we should try giving them a large brandy too...??
LEM I don't drink so hence the tea suggestion....but maybe ds will drive me to take up alcohol again at this rate!!

This pm he was a bit better with the promise of a choc button if he was a good boy all afternoon. He lost the button at the 11th hour by being a bit naughty but it worked for a good while. (I have had a thread on the merits of this approach before!)

I might try it again tomorrow to see if I can get him to 'forget' this new pattern of winding me up behaviour. But unfortunately he has a very very good memory so I doubt it'd work.

Ah yes, it's because he's 2.4

I agree with Lyra - it's hell on wheels until they're 4. From 2 - 3 they push at every boundary you've ever set, and then from 3 - 4 they moan and whinge and expect you to be their slave.

Then at 4 they're utterly wonderful and carry on being that way until they're at least 6 (can't make any promises after that..!).