19mo thinks it's hilarious to be told off

[IvorHughJackolantern]

...and I need some advice about how to not make it funny.

It's just when he does dangerous stuff like attempting to climb out of a window or, as today, horrible stuff like pulling very hard on our elderly cat's tail. That's not on and I have to stop it. I had to wrestle his hand away from the cat and then I knelt down and said, 'No, that's cruel, you must be gentle' and I repeated the word 'gentle' (which he understands) and stroked his face to show what I meant. Didn't work because he started laughing at the word 'no' and apparently it just got funnier. I ended up banging out of the room like a teenager in a strop and I just feel shit about myself.

What am I doing wrong? (Please be gentle, I know I sound like a dick )

Me too! Ds laughs in my face when I tell him off.

I asked my mum when I could expect him to actually pay attention to what I'm saying and she said 'When he's 21' and then went on to tell me that this is my punishment for being such a vile toddler and pissing on the floor at Miriam's wedding when I was 3, so that 'I couldn't hold my head up in front of the Bowen's for years'

I was a horrific toddler. My mother also mutters about karma.

Sounds like you're doing fine except the stomping off bit.
Just keep on,it'll get there in the end.Simple words and demonstrations,consistency and facial expressions are all important imo.

Thanks Very SmallSqueak. Yes, stomping off was daft but I just had to get away from him grinning at me, I was so cross. And then I felt awful for being cross. My mum was a shouter and a smacker and I've sworn to do neither. It's not in my nature anyway. But it feels so disheartening when what I can do - talk sensibly, calmly, sternly- is apparently even funnier than putting his trousers on my head and doing the Makka Pakka dance

I feel your pain!! my 18mo dd laughs at me when I say a firm No and the more firm I try and be the more she laughs.

And she is so naughty, earlier today she kept pushing some photo frames that are hanging on the wall, she knows she isn't supposed to and I ended up picking her up and stomping around the house with her looking for somewhere to put her for a naughty step, but found nowhere really as we have a door at the bottom of our stairwell. (this was after a number of other naughty things including trying to break a table lamp) .

I will keep an eye on this thread.

He does sound a proper little cutie

WereTricksPotter - have just looked at DH and done a silent 'Nooooooo!' and he started laughing, and when I asked why he said I looked like I was having a knotty fart. I think you're spot on with that.

PartyFops - Oh it is lovely hearing that other people are also experiencing this. DS also has an obsession with poking photo frames. I love the image of you grumping about searching for somewhere to put her. If I'd done that with DS this afternoon he may have ended up in the bin

He yanked the cat's tail this evening, DH told him off, he laughed so hard he fell over.

[biscuits] [ spliff ]