Parenting Forums

Posted: 10 December 2007 at 8:58pm | IP Logged

Ooooo a kindred spirit. I'm so glad you've posted as my son Tom sounds exactly the same.

I've posted loads on here (under toddler/babies) about his behaviour.  I'm sure some kids are more strong willed than others!

Tom's full of cold at the moment and is the limpet from hell!  This doesn't excuse his naughty behaviour because he knows exactly what he's doing, but it makes me more patient with him. Some days are worse than others.

I'm split from his dad and work full-time so I feel alot of guilt, which I sure he picks up.

I was talking to my mum about this last night and she made me realise that his routine had gone abit pear-shaped over the last month or so and maybe try to get him back in it.  I've tried everything else from the naughty chair to time out to smacking on the bum to ignoring him but nothing works so the routine is the last resort.

Whether we like it not they all go through this stage. It's bloomin knackering, but it's such a relief to find out you're not the only one.

Hope I've helped if only a little.  It can be soul destroying, can't it.

Posted: 16 December 2007 at 10:21am | IP Logged

Hi PurpleKangaroo,

How is it going with your lo?

I've gotten my boys back into routine over the last week or so and I've seen such a difference in Tom. 

He's now calmer, more placid and even-tempered.  I'm hardly having to deal with a situation and if I do it's quickly resolved.

Some nights he'll still try and get into my bed, but if I show him back to his room he'll go back without a fuss.  He feels more secure because he knows what comes next in his life.

I now have my evenings back-hurrah!

It's brilliant!

Posted: 16 December 2007 at 7:26pm | IP Logged

Soul destroyed?  Yup sounds like me atm!!  Lewis is being an absolute nightmare!!  Today alone hes had too many tantrums to count and has been so so naughty Im going insane!

This afternoon we went to the new Asda Living store in our area, and Lewis got his eye on some Bob the Builder wellies - too big - but hey - he gives it a go anyway - sits on the floor and takes his shoes off - rips the labels off the wellies and proceeds to put them on.  My dad catches him and takes them off - full-scale riot persues.

So we are at home and hes running backwards and forwards like a looney and chucking one of those soft footballs about, knocking everything over in sight.  All goes quiet and then we discover that hes decorated the leather seat with chalk and also the floor beside it - quite artistic, which he gets from me - but thats beside the point!!  Have confiscated his favourite toy of the hour and he continues to chatter and screach and scream.

its not even half 7 and Im to take away.  Hes not remotely tired and if I put him to bed now hes only gonna get into mischief upstairs!!  Arrggghhh  Nothing I try seems to help at all no matter how ridgedly we stick to it!!  Im trying my hardest to ride this out cos I know it will pass - but its hard - really hard and I know that I echo quite a few of the mums!!

Posted: 16 December 2007 at 8:21pm | IP Logged

FC, Tom was also a little blighter today.

I took the boys out of their trikes for a trip to the park.  However, Tom decides to speed off Lewis Hamilton stylee only he's veering towards the road.  I'm running after him like a loon and shouting for him to stop but would you believe it he has selective hearing (I'm sure that's a man thing).

I catch up with him and out of fear more than anything give him a tap on his bum.  Now he's got a pull-up on as we're out and about and it was a tap, but in Tom's world that warrants a full scale scream out.  Boy, did he give it some.

I try to explain why mummy smacked his bum but he's so het up he's not listening, so I left him on the path (safely away from the road) to cool off and paid Max loads of attention for being a good boy.

It worked, although he didn't give in easily.

Got home and cooked tea.  Mum was with us so I managed to cook without him clinging to my ankle.  I even managed to get the hoovering done without him throwing himself in front of it to try and stop me doing something that didn't involve him!

Even though mum stayed late I stuck to the routine i.e. bath at 6ish, dressed and ready for story by 7ish etc.  They both went to bed easily at the right time.

I still got my kiss and cuddle so he still loves his mummy.  I sometimes wonder if they remember.  If they don't remember the punishment I hope they remember why they've been punished and then it wouldn't have been in vain.