Tinsel and Tantrums- The NEW (and festive) 2 or more kids under 3 thread!

[SpookyGrrrl]

Here we are girls!

Feel free to join us if you have 2 or more kids under 3yrs old- we won't bite

For any potential newbies, I have 2 boys, the oldest is 2 yr 5mths, and the youngest is 13mths.

Tracyface - jam not cheese?? That would make me want to scream for 1 hr and 20 minutes too! Poor you - hope you have some tea (and chocolate) in the house.

BTW Both of mine wailed about anything and everything when they came home from the CM's (tired, I guess)... (And the cat puked on the sofa ) (sorry - tmi)

Yes definate sympathy to all those who are on the receiving end of tantrums. I must say Freya does not sound so bad now, her worst involves saying some angry words and we warning her she will go on the naughty mat if she doesn't calm down.

Well it was Freya's 3rd birthday yesterday and my is was exhausting. She had a great time, was nice to Izzy regarding toy envy (she let Izzy play too) and all was fine. There were a few bouts of tears, and her announcing 'I am not 3 I am 2!' but all in all it was good.

But I am super angry at my SIL and my nephew (who has children). I always send my SILs children a card and a good £20 of present (the children are all 10 and over) and did she even send a card for Freya? No. Not a card. Not anything. And my nephew was the same and I sent his daugher a beautiful M&P doll for her last birthday.

I did think at one point she had sent a present because the postman posted a card saying there was a parcel for us and we needed to collect it from delivery office. So, I texted her and asked if it was from her, and asked if it was heavy - if it was heavy, I would have driven down there and if not heavy I would wonder down with the girls. But she texted back something saying, no was not from her, and that there was a problem with the heating that day, and she couldn't talk because she was waiting for the plumber. Now, I personally think that is a crock of shit, and she was just too embarrassed to say 'sorry'. Honastly guys, I am contenplating not sending anything else down there. But, is that just mean of me?

RANT OVER*

Evening All

Happy Birthday J&G's Freya! Our Freya has announced that she's going to be 1 next birthday... (this could be a difficult one to deal with!)

Tough one about your SIL, Jewels - don't know what I'd do. Could she just have forgotten? I find my family are pretty uneven with presents (but then so am I) although I try my best with the ones who always get something for the DCs.

Tantrums weren't so bad today (I guess the chicken pox is finally leaving us), which is a good thing as I'm on my own tonight and everyone (almost) behaved at bedtime.

J&G - belated happy birthday to Freya
I would quietly drop the presents but send cards for a bit, if still no reciprocation then drop the cards to if you want!
i'm god at sending cards but don't tend to post presents so only give them if i'm seeing them around the time.

all ok here, ds1 still at crazy times, ds2 sleeps for Britain!

currently both eating breakfast, ds2 laughing at a toy monkey he's recently adopted (sod's law, not interested in any toy we've bought him, but this monkey is from the States!) and ds1 laughing at the big boys cup i've just given him - with a handle no less

have good weekends all

J&G you have every right to be . I would be hacked off too.
Can't type too much as had a few red wines already and will do too many typo's!!

Went to the Next sale today, pretty naf for adults (I got one top) but got some lovely bits for the girls.

Sorry to hear about the tantrums....can I mention 'Toddler Taming' book again???!! (very good).

Sorry to be brief....

Well thanks for your support ladies. And after that text message I received 2 emails saying presents should be arriving soon, and apologising prefusly for lateness. To be honest, I did not expect presents anyway, but I did expect cards to be there for the big day.

Well what a beautiful day here and I woke up. And then within 5 mins a migraine started so I have been in bed all morning, only just got up and have the worse hadache ever. But, it is getting better now. I just feel pissed off at wasting today.

Glad all ok Chaotica and the pox are in their way out

All fine here, Freya has just made sheep cakes with DH, and I am watching the repeat on the F1 [heaven emoticon]

Speak later.....xx

J&G Hope your migraine got better.
Lovely day here too. DH at work all day so just me and the girls, walked to church this morning (30 mins each way) and DD1 still not tired enough for a nap!! I am resigned to the fact that at nearly 3 she is gonna drop it soon. Weird cos some days she still naps for 2 hrs!!! It's like she needs it but not everyday.

Do I have to leave the thread in May when DD1 turns 3? .

Hi All

I was thinking the same thing, LM74 - do I have to go too?? Don't know how I'll manage alone with no-one but DP to moan to (I'll do his head in!).

Think the tantrums are really the tail end of chicken pox, so I'm just trying to see them out as gently as possible. Then I'll be back to tough mummy

Took DD and DS into town yesterday to eat chocolate cake and buy clothes (first was fun, last one: never again if I can help it - they can wait till they're old enough to go themselves!).

Please can I join? I have DD who is 2.5yrs & DS who is 6 months & DD is turning into a real Diva, wont sleep during day anymore & is so overtired in the afternoon the tantrums are bigger than ever!
Ive enjoyed reading back all thease posts & can relate to most, could do with some friends to help me as the tantrums do get to me sometimes!
Generally speaking its when we have to leave somewhere & she refuses to budge & rolls around on the floor screaming & kicking! or refusal to get dressed / eat her dinner & decide she hates a certain food which she has eaten the day before & loved!

Welcome kellise. Sorry to repeat myslef but I cannot recommend enough the Toddler Taming book (Dr Christopher Green). It tells you how to deal with tantrums.....basically ignore them. The toddler is just loving the attention. Easier said than done I know, but I have been using his 'techniques' since reading the book and I must say, life is definitely easier. I promise!!

chaotica, maybe we could start a new thread along the lines of....

'OK, so now it's 2 under 4yrs but it still feels like hard work'

Had a mooch around shops this am while DD1 at playgroup. Had a friend with me so she took DD2 off for 30 mins so that I could try on a few bridesmaids dresses for my sister's wedding this summer. Think I found one! Just need to show Mum and little sis on saturday. (It was in the sale too....bonus!)

Other than that.....pretty tired, so I think I'll cook dinner now while they sleep then I can relax after the witching hour bedtime.

LM xx

Of course, I meant old haggered saggy boobed maid maid of honour, not bridesmaid. I'm far too old to be a bridesmaid (though have never been one ).

Thanks, will head to amazon as soon as I can pry myself off mumsnet!

Wow LM being a bridesmaid will be great fun and I am sure you will look stunning (as all of us on this thread do)

We have had a quiet day, girls good. Nothing to report at all.

Welcome kellise

Honastly, I really have nothing to say? Hmmm right then I'll go before I post the most boring post ever.

Boring is good, Jewels Really it is. Much more so than screaming, food throwing, knife-wielding, cat-juggling, chair-toppling lunacy...

DS's latest trick is to make a mess to that he can clear it up himself... I'm not sure whether to stop this or encourage it (it keeps him quiet for ages, and he is pretty good at clearing up).

Kellise - you sound like you've got my DD! Although she's not always like that she can be really hard work.

LM74 - I bet you'll be great as a bridesmaid . Last time I was a bridesmaid, I was 2.5 (and my mum could have been writing on this thread as my sister was 1 ) - I remember it well. I was fed fruit gums throughout the ceremony (probably to shut me up!) and refused to be the cute bridesmaid and have my photo taken with everyone... ...ended up with me being chased around the village by the increasingly desperate photographer and me making faces at him (evil toddler )... I was never invited to be a bridesmaid again (can't think why!).

Morning All

All quiet here so far (except that DS is taking a xylophone for a walk ). But DS is going back to waking early (can we change the clocks every weekend?).

Anyone worked out how to persuade toddlers not to wake? (I know it's been done to death, and with limited success in some case... ) He's not old enough for anything involving reasoning or bribing him (and unfortunately he doesn't have his own room - still shares with us, although I want to move him in with DD but she's a great sleeper). Any ideas?

Hi Kellise - not sure how much advice I can give about tantrums as I dont think I am dealing with them that well.

I have the toddler taming book too but I think its a bit out of date as in mine it says to try smacking

Im guessing Dr Green has updated and reprinted it as mine is 19 years old from when I had my first terrible toddler.

Melissa has also dropped her daytime nap and I think that is part of the problem with the tiredness/tantrum thing although sometimes they start as soon as she wakes up.

Ignoring it is hard as she gets up and follows me from room to room so I may have to resort to locking myself in the loo Should I really have to hide from my two year old?

Have had a good few days as I have had the travel cot up and have been using it as a playpen and has worked quite well in separating them and keeping Isaac safe from melissa.

Its funny she thought she was missing out and has been asking to go in it instead of Isaac so he has had free range so to speak. Its amazing that reverse phsycology works.

Chaotica what happens if you ignore him and pretend to be asleep ? Will he go back to sleep eventually as this sometimes works with Melissa. This is what I have to do when we are camping as we are all in together. I suppose you have tried the books and toys to amuse himself quietly for a little while.

LM74 whens the wedding ? Im sure you will look great!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday Luckymummy, happy birthday to me!!!

tracyface your toddler taming book is definitely out of date as he now categorically says NO to smacking!!! I got the updated one in Asda for £7....

Morning. Funnily enough first thing this morning we had a huge tantrum & all because she wouldn't get ready! (shes going out with grandparents today) dh got rather cross with her & told her he was ringing Grandma & she wasnt going to go unless she got dressed, she then got dressed first with little fuss but what followed was screaming histerics as she refused to come downstairs unless carried down (shes been able to walk supervised for months) then refused to eat her cereal so it was cleared away with no fuss, she then screamed for more cereal, finally I carried her screaming & kicking up to her room telling her she would stay until she calmed down and left her shutting stairgate behind me, went back upstairs after 2 mins & told her she could come back down if she sat & ate her breakfast like a big girl, she then did.
Its easier to ignore if your at home & dont have to be anywhere but out & about & when your on a time table its not so.
I have ordered the book so hopefully that will help & we have start charts and she get rewarded when she behaves well & she is more often a very well behaved lovely little girl.
One thing we have at the moment i think is that she wants all of a sudden to be helped with eating & being carried etc more than usual & I have a feeling is because she sees us doing everything for my ds.
Anyway at least DH has seen her in full throttle as I think he didnt believe how crazy she could get!
Shes gone out now & ds is happily playing in his walker, crazy thing is tantrums or no I hate the house without her!

happy birthday luckymummy74

Happy birthday LM!!! Hope you have a nice day!

No tantrums here yet but some whining which can be just as wearing. Need to go out this afternoon for some fresh air just hoping it does'nt rain.

I have been a very busy mummy this morning and we have done melissa's favourite farm puzzle about eight times, I must get her another one as she is quite good at it with help but I need something a bit more challenging.

Just waiting for Isaac to wake up and then we are out.

Easter fun day tomorrow so looking forward to that as we have made a little easter basket to collect eggs. We have had a little practice at home so Melissa is quite excited.

Have a nice weekend everyone.

Hi All

Happy birthday to LM74! And Happy Birthday to me too I never 'met' anyone who shares my birthday before... I hope you have a great day.

(I just had to buy my own cake, as DD won't understand that it's my birthday if we don't have cake and DP is at work... But wow! what a cake Mustn't eat it before everyone gets home...)

at smacking in Toddler Taming... Was there a 19th century edition which recommended sending the harder toddler cases up chimneys?

Happy birthday LM and chaotica!

Stuff is still boring here, with Freya having the odd tantrum but nothing major. Usually it is me asking her to put her toys away and her saying no, I let this go on for a while and start using firm voice and please alot and if she still says no, I warn her with naughty mat, if still no action or a no, then she is on it. I cannot ignore bad behaviour though, even if books advise it. I do use the naughty mat as a caml down mat too, but I always nip things in the bud. I do always reward good behaviour with a cuddle and a 'well done!'. But hey we all have different children and different things work right? If my methods did not work, I would move into something else and give it a go.

When Izzy was younger Freya would want things done for ehr like for Izzy and I just either explained that big girls don't get carrfied, or do it the odd time. Buy when my mum is here, she knows my mum will carry here everywhere if she asked, so that annoys the hell out of me. I mean, she is 3 now, and there my mum is carrying her everywhere...

We are looking forward to a nice weekend of sunshine [hopeful emoticon]

Happy Birthdays LM & Chaotica

Luckily Ds1 hardly tantrums, esp compared to the little girls i know, some of them are champion screamers, ouch!

If i threaten ds1 with 'being carried like a baby' he rushed over, even for nappy changes !

Dh working from home/nearer home for a couple of weeks which is a relief for me, plus we are off to devon for the bank holiday to see my parents - first trip to their new bungalow so fingers crossed it goes ok....

Happy birthday LM and Chaotica

We are having trouble with tantrums from ds1 at the moment too - is there something in the air????? Everything is a major drama, doesn't want to go out, have breakfast, have a bath etc etc. Very tiring. Am not sure if it's just the normal toddler tantrums, or if it is worse because he is so tired as he just will not sleep later than 5.30am - arhhhhhhhhh!!!! Think I am going to go mad.

DH still has no job either, so that's crap.

And the house we are renting has been on sale, then they told us they were taking it off the market to give it a break and we though yay, but within days a guy turned up here and said he was the new agent and barged his way in wanting to take pics of the view - [very very pissed off emoticon]

Sorry for the rant, will go and get ds2 up now and stop feeling sorry for myself.......