Does anyone else get totally fed up and weary of the constant daily battles with a toddler?

[Ceebee74]

The whole day seems littered with mini-battles with DS1 (2.8), such as what he will be wearing, getting him to have his nappy changed, getting him to get dressed, getting him to eat his meals, getting him to clean his teeth, constantly asking him to stop hurting hassling his baby brother etc. All things that need to be done clearly but why do I have to battle/persuade/force him every single day.

Just for one day, I would love him to just do everything without questioning/procrastinating/p*ssing about - oh what a joy that would be.

I just don't have the energy some days to deal with it - although he is so cute and lovely (some of the time).

When (if ever) does it get better??

So much I said it twice!

Jimmy rofl at your conversation that is SO typical of our house dd is 2.6 and everything is along those lines "no mummy I no WANT nana" "ok I'll put it in the bin then" "NOOOOOO! I NEEEEED nana" etc.etc. ( she always "needs" things rather than just wants).

And I'm only with her by myself on a Monday as i work 4 days, oh God the thought of it full time!!!!

I've tried countdown/warnings to little effect but I keep persvering. The OCDness is v v wearing though, and non negotiable with them!

A couple of things that worked for me - took me until dc3 to work these out...

With the clothes thing, I tell dd who is just 3 that no dresses are clean today - she wants to wear a "party dress" no matter what we're doing. She accepts that at the moment but not for much longer me thinks.

Also have had some success in telling her "Once you have done X we will do Y". e.g. Once you've been to the toilet we can go to the park. It's just sophisticated bribery basically, but the phrasing seems to help. It seems to convey expectance of compliance!

I have had it today with my 2.4yr old- i am so looking fwd to work tomorrow for a break! Mine refuses to wear anything but his red sweater top today with the monster on it (and tomato sauce), insisted he carried dd book bag, would not hold my hands today without screaming when i held it anyway, insisted on playing with toy cars in post office que, constantly went on for well over half an hr as wanted a cracker cracker cracker cracker - ffs i can still here him now cracker cracker cracker! Would only eat lunch after he removed my cutlery from me as he had to have mine then change his mind again and want it all. I need a plan........

WARNING:

If you try the suggestion of 'joke choices'. be prepared for a whole day of lo asking for the 'joke' choice, eg 'mummy, where is crocodile?, 'mummy, why will crocodile bite my bottom?', 'mummy I'm too scared to go to bed, crocodile will bite my bottom', etc.

Every time I've tried this sort of thing, it ends in a whole day of surreal coversations about dancing with monsters, why she can't have a million balloons or in screaming hysterics because she truly believes my head will pop if she whinges for one more second.

Minx - I am SO with you on the 'thank god I work 4 days a week' (although technically I am on mat leave at the moment but DS1 still goes to nursery 4 days a week) I honestly think SAHM's have the hardest job in the world!

It is just like living with someone with OCD!!

Must try the 'fridge' trick - although everytime I go near the fridge, DS1 appears sayinh 'mummy I want to come up' over and over again until I pick him up so he can look in (mainly to see if he can find any chocolate that I have hidden in there )