NAUGHTY TODDLER/ KIDS - what are your coping stratagies??

[MadameWeb]

i thought it would be helpful to post your coping techniques when the kids are playing up,

my DS (2.3) is being a HORROR today,

someone on here said 'pretend to be a really posh good mum' when your about to loose it , and its a really good idea, lol

i call him a grumpy sausage and instead of smaking him or shouting at him like i want to when hes pushed it too far! - i tickle him, because he laughs and as soon as i hear his little laugh it makes me laugh too, and defuses the whole situation!!

what do you do that helps?

I tickle them too but best one for me is to make a cup of tea, pick up a book, walk out of the room that they are in, into another one and tell them they can only come into my room when they have stopped doing whatever they are doing.

The making tea alone usually calms me down.

Walk away. The little darling may or may not stop being vile, but it gives you breathing and calming down space.
I have a friend who is a widow with 4 teenagers; they know that if Mum has locked herself in the bathroom, they have pushed her too far!!