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Original poster

How do I put a brake (hoho?) on my DS Cars obsession? Please give me advice - I am about to hurl Lightening McQueen out of the window.

57 replies

RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 13:08

DS (Age2) started off with enjoying the film Cars.

Now he has to:
-Sleep with Lightening McQueen in his hand.
-Go everywhere with L McQ and one other car in his hands. It make trying to ride a scooter or do anything bloody impossible.
-Whines if the movie Cars is not the TV programme on. My poor DD is sick to death of seeing it. (I don't always give in, but honestly, the whining can carry on for over an hour and my head feels like exploding!)

  • Now has been given Cars clothing for Xmas and insists on wearing it.

I can't believe I have let what seemed like a cute hobby rule our lives. It causes about 5 altercations a day. In fact, I would say him losing L McQ several times a day is the cause of most of his tears. He is OBSESSED!!

I know I should strap on a pair and not give in, but it has been a difficult last few weeks as we are about to emigrate so it has been easier to give in.
But...should we cold turkey him when we emigrate and just get rid of the sodding things? What have you done about your DCs obsessions?

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BoysAreLikeDogs · 04/01/2010 13:14

DS1 slept with batteries cluthced to his breast

DS2 had stones he would not let go of

it's a phase and will pass

you could sneakily disable the telly to get relief if you don't feel strong enough to say no to film/programme

StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 13:16

embrace it, i love cars
our dvd is broken after ds dragged it across the floor so you coul;d send it here
oh and you forgot one - DS always begs for that sheryl cole song to be on in the car. i like the james taylor one

Original poster
RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 13:20

BALD - batteries?stones?!!
Please tell me that the phase only lasted 6 months. It is now about month 5 and I don't know how many more times I can go back to the park/toddler group/shop because Sherrif or Snotrod has been left behind.

And Stealth - my DS even joins in with the 'huh' that the Elvis does during the Cheryl Crown song!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 13:21

or say "i want it outta my home, outta my town, and outta my life"

StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 13:22

very cute
(I always assumed that was sheryl!!)

silverfrog · 04/01/2010 13:23

I'd go with it for now.

As you said, it's been a difficult few week, and soon your ds is going to have major upheaval with the emigration. let him have his comfort objects, try to keep a lid on the more obsessive end of things, and hope it passes soon.

dd1 used to have to carry balls everywhere. then it was pencils. thenshe went through a phase of picking up anyhitng at all on the way out and wanting it with her.

she's mostly through it now, and she is 5 (and has SN too, which only added to the obsessive side of things)

dd2 has her fave toy, and will often fix on soemthing else as a passing whim. easier to go with it (within realms of normality, if possible) than try to break it.

I would try to instigate some rules for the dvd thoguh - if it is impacting on your dd's life then not fair really. maybe suggest taking turns to choose what is on, with no whining about the others' choice? (whining forfeits a choice if you are a harsh parent like me)

NotQuiteCockney · 04/01/2010 13:23

DS2 went through a phase of sleeping with a toilet roll holder. He also had a Blutac obsession.

Obsessions are normal at this age, work with it, don't fight him, it's not worth it.

Original poster
RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 13:31

LOL at the obsessions - toilet roll holder, pencils, blutac etc.

OK - glad to hear there are others out there who have had the same things. I never had this with DD. She LIKED things alot, Barbie for one, but there wasn't this same demanding need to have it at all times.

Agree, need rules for the DVD Silverfrog I like the idea of forfeit for whining. Otherwise will chill a bit and just chant 'this too will pass' when he sees another boy with a car and he wants it!

(And yes, its Sheryl Crow isn't it! Oops.)

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 13:32

no i mean i assumed it was her doing the HUH

TheCrackFox · 04/01/2010 13:35

DS2 was like this at the same age - he loved Lightening McQueen. He went to bed with Lightening in his hand. We have loads of Cars stuff.

In 2 years time he will swap this obsession for Ben 10.

Original poster
RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 13:36

I think it actually might be my DS saying it, especially recorded for Disney!

OP posts:
SpeedyGonzalez · 04/01/2010 13:38

We have the same thing with trains. Tbh I don't see what the problem is - e.g why can't he sleep with his fave toys?

He'll grow out of it eventually, and the more you make it a big deal the more problematic it'll become.

With practicalities, just be creative and explain the consequences, e.g. I always tell DS (age 3) that if he holds his trains while scooting, they'll fall and then another child will get them. He considers this very thoughtfully, bless him, and then I suggest putting them in his (zipped up) pocket - or he suggests giving them to me. Works like a dream every time.

As for telly - why don't you come up with some way of setting a boundary/ explaining that telly is not just for him. If he carries on whining, tell him that he has the choice of either whining endlessly and being banned from telly that day, or leaving you all in peace and watching 5 mins (set an alarm and tell him you're doing so) of Cars later. The alarm thing may take time for him to get used to, but once he does get used to it it should change things dramatically.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 04/01/2010 13:39

yy alarm is a great idea for limiting telly time

StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 13:40

actually, just re-read the OP
"I would say him losing L McQ several times a day is the cause of most of his tears"

DS's gos missing almost every day as well, much more than his other cars. Each day starts with "where my race car?" his name for it, and sighs, promises we will look for it and it will turn up. Do you think they make them in such a way that they go missing easily?? we were going to buy another to have for emergencies, but the real one is lovingly battered so he'd know.

OmniDroid · 04/01/2010 13:40

DS had the Cars obsession from about 2.6 to 3 years old. So the end may be in sight! He hasn't fixated on anything else the same way since - Cars is just very, very good. Your DS has taste.

Original poster
RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 13:45

Stealth - we have bought about 15-20 McQueens over the past 6 months as they keep getting blardy lost as they are so teeny tiny!

Like the idea of an alarm - we have one so will do Speedy.
The problem with the sleep thing is that I think it might be one of the causes of him waking often in the night. He loses McQ in the night, cries, we find it, he goes to sleep - but we are then awake!

I have, however, found a soft pillow McQ which I am going to get from Toys R Us when we move so I think that will be the only toy he will be allow to sleep with in the future.

OP posts:
SpeedyGonzalez · 04/01/2010 13:47

Oh god, losing cars, waking then crying. Bleedin' feckin' toys. Okay, I sympathise.

How about gluing it to his hands while he sleeps?

Pillow is a great idea - then just be firm with him that toys never go to bed.

Good luck.

Original poster
RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 13:49

LOL about gluing to hand!!!!

I won't tell Dh that one - he will be straight in there with the UHU.

OP posts:
SpeedyGonzalez · 04/01/2010 13:50

harsh, but effective. FGS it'll peel off eventually, what's the fuss about?

Original poster
RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 13:51

And what is a layer of skin between family?

OP posts:
SpeedyGonzalez · 04/01/2010 13:53

Oh, and all that boundary-setting stuff - I started doing that in earnest when my DS was about the same age. Now I could kiss myself . It's so lovely seeing how I can reason with him by explaining the (crap) consequences of what he wants as opposed to the (brilliant, insightful, wise and wonderful) consequences of what I want. What's important is that I listen to him properly first, and then following that I explain the situation as above. He listens, understands, accepts, complies. It is a lifesaving tool in parenting, and it also teaches him a huge range of essential life skills.

StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 13:54

why would it need to peel off? if ds had his way he'd never put it down anyway
wel;l actually suppose they don't CRASH that well ("look mummy he got no tyres") when glued to a hand

SpeedyGonzalez · 04/01/2010 13:54

re skin - then you can save up all the little skin layers in a box and present them in a decorative box on his 18th birthday!

Oh I am going too far now.

Original poster
RainRainGoAway · 04/01/2010 14:04

PMSL at thoughtful gift idea. That would be good revenge for all the times I have had to listen to Mater say 'Tuh-mater'.

OP posts:
sockmonkey · 04/01/2010 14:25

Oh the fun of obsessions. DS1 was mad on cars in general, he had particular favourites (a yellow fiat was one) and because we had literally hundreds of cars he would always chose one that I hadn't seen in a while to obsess over. The movie was Toy Story - I used to love toy story sob but several times a day is enough to drive anyone mad!

He then moved on to the lids from washing up bottles, clicking them open & closed, after that it was stones, then ben 10 figures, then back to stones.

DS2 has been fairly consistant with muslin squares, and bits of string.