Describe your worst day with your two-year-old

[Pruni]

Just to make me feel better.

I now don't even consider going to Toddler Groups, Antenatal meet-ups, VERY busy playgrounds, anywhere that seems to trigger my 3 yr old DS as he gets a bit rough with his play. He is just so lovable 98% of the time but as soon as I take him out where there are younger children, ie small toddlers or babies, he just turns into the wild child you warn your own kids to stay away from!! Seriously, this has reduced me to tears on many many occasions. He started pre-school 3 months before he turned 3 yrs old. Since then he has been invited to a couple of parties and I know he is quite a popular child with his peers (the wild behaviour only seems to occur when I am with him, he's OK with Grandmas, Aunt etc in those situations). At the last 2 parties I could read him like a book and knew I was in for a stressful time, he got so excited and as the other kids at pre-school are aged between 3 and 5, I could sense the other mum's puzzled looks to me, like, what's wrong with him, (probably thinking ADHD??) Arghhhh. I do think that the difference in behaviour between 3 years old and up to 5 years old is significant. Anyway I know the exact environment that triggers him but can't always avoid it - I am doing my best but it is just so stressful.

I know he is still learning how to handle himself in lots of different situations, but there are some that I just don't want to handle. He seems to dislike small children, babies, anyone it seems he can dominate. He has a sister aged 6 who plays with boys, always was the tomboy hence he gets some rough play from her, which I try to stop.

My problem is tackling him,stopping this behaviour whilst out of the home and being nice to EVERYONE. If we are out I remove him from the situation and bring him home or time out in the car/another room. He doesn't have a favourite toy to confiscate, he enjoys timeout sitting on the stairs and sings to himself, his bedroom is 'fun', too young to understand timescales in witholding privideges, I try to remove my own presence/show disinterest which has a very shortlived effect. It seems time-wise he can't be punished. Any ideas, help, support, anyone else dealing likewise?

I don't feel my problem is serious, it will be dealt with in due course but would love to speed up the process, I don't want to avoid social situations that get out of hand and make me feel I'm not teaching him right from wrong!! It is just so embarrassing and I love him so much I hate how anyone else may look at him and think otherwise.

thanks girls now i no that im not alone in having had some mystery force taking away my happy ds and replacing him with a clone that looks like him how behaves like a monster boy. who'd test the sanity of any good humoured,sane person.

Been Through terrible two's twice (still on going at 16 and 4)

Read all the above.

Still Broody !!

Mad ?

Oh Yes !

Have many behavioural problems
Here is a couple:
Yesterday DD (6) and DS 2.5 both sitting eating dinner (chicken and cous cous and veggies) at their small table and chairs. DS finishes and gets down and decides to pick up a toy that is right at the side of the table. Manages to tip the table on it's side and my DD dinner slides off the tables and spreads in about a 3 feet circle around the floor. Cous Cous sticks everywhere. I had just had a massive clear up session before and floors (laminate) were all sparkling when dinner went everywhere. Saw red and kicked the table across the front room. Then picked the table up and kicked it again. I scared the life out of my DD but managed to calm her down. DS didn't even bat an eyelid. Think I need to attend anger management!! Have never lost it this bad before.

Was in town the other day and was DS was pushing buggy and also wearing reins. He was the Bob the builder ride in town centre and I let him run over (fatal mistake). Couldn't get him off the thing. Was dragging him away by his reins. Couldn't control his temper so tried to put him in buggy, right in front of the coffee shop. Every time I got him in pushchair it rolled back and DS was sliding out. Put brakes on but it still moved. I was literally laying on top of him to get him in the pushchair but could not physically do it. All of this with 20 pairs of eyes watching. I ended up dragging DS around the corner and getting him on the hop and shoved him in the pushchair.

He has complete control over me. Frightening really. At least I can laugh about it now.

My worst was come home from mums funeral stuff everywhere, crying 8 month old whining 4 year. Fell over buggy for umteenth time kicked it hard broke my toe!

Penpal - one of my DDs used to be like that at
2-3, I was wary of taking her anywhere where she might come across younger children. Her favourite target was those who had just started to walk, and were still a bit wobbly. She would meander over and stroke their hair, lulling them into a false sense of security, then give them a big shove backwards . Thankfully she is now a lovely 5 year old, so there is light at the end of the tunnel

LOLOLOLOLOL [gtin]

What a great thread, going to print to show dp, we are not alone!!

Calling Scotchlass - I'm writing a piece for a parenting magazine about toddler tantrums (see media threads) and would really like to include your Prince Charles episode. If that's ok, would you contact me asap? My email is aeffreelance at hotmail dot com - and my deadline is a week today. Thank you! xx Willow2

Actually, would be good to hear from any of you who have posted "typical days" - Bozza; Blackduck; Geekgrrl - as they are so funny, IYKWIM. Email is aeffreelance at hotmail dot com. Thank you.

bumo

bump, even

And Donbean's! That was hilarious.
I started this thread at the end of my first week of ebing a sahm - was so depressed and convinced I'd made the wrong decision. Anyway it's got A LOT better since then (generally).
Thank god!!

bump

I LMAO at Donbeans day, that made mine! Absolutely priceless!!

Surely having two two year olds is worse .......my DTs are 23 months and can usually be found egging each other on to climb up on the worktop , screaming with fear at the sight of the other ones poo on the carpet or sharing a stolen baguette (one at either end Aristocats-style). They also take hairy fits when they can't have a solo cuddle with mummy at the same time.

Ripping my hair out moments also include taking a major screaming tantrum including lying on the pavement bashing their own heads off the concrete and flailing around madly so you can't pick either of them up and having no buggy near while someones dad looks at me in a terrified way and someones mum looks at me obviously questioning my sanity of taking two out of the house at all. I painted on my best Mary Poopins (I meant that) face until I got safely behind my closed door and poured a triple gin. And don't even talk to me about potty training, I'm ignoring that, they will wear nappies until they are teenagers .

Sorry Willow, I can't include myself in your search, I'll be lying down in a darkened room ..... if I'm not doing DD1s homework .

HeythereGG and Penpal - thanks for getting in contact. I've emailed you both. If you could get back to me when you get a second that would be brill'.

i can't becuase those years were so awful i can't remember them - it must be a brain block thing.

so many sympathies to those of you who want to jump off a tall building