I really need to remember to take my anti-depressants...
So parenting is really, really hard these days. I swore to myself before Goldie was born that I would never have a two year old ruling my house. While things arent' quite that bad, it isn't at home where the problem is. Basically? We can't go anywhere without our child turning into a wild-eyed tyrant of a toddler who refuses to listen, pretends not to hear, and only responds to the words Time Out.
Christ, this sucks. We are lucky enough to have a lot of friends whom we love to get together with frequently. At our house it is easy. The problem starts when we are invited to other people's houses, with the exception of a few folks who are well versed in the area of Toddler Taming, it generally goes like this:
1. We arrive, hopeful that this will go better than the last time.
2. Goldie runs wild
3. She tries to stick her finger through her sister's soft spot, demands crackers
4. Break for dinner where she eats off of everyone's plates
5.Refuses to check potty, insists she does'nt have to go
6.Pees on carpet
7.Lays on top of baby while she is trying to nurse.
8.Time out.
9.Hits someone
10. See #8
11. Rinse and repeat
12.See #11
13.Throws tantrum
14.I gather our stuff and try to slink out door shouting thank yous over the screaming infant.
15.Crawl in hole and die
My friends have been really gracious, but I wonder seriously how many more invites we will recieve. I don't mean to sound shallow, but I don't want to give up these gatherings and I don't want to live in exile.
Is this going to get better? What am I going to do?
Christ, this sucks. We are lucky enough to have a lot of friends whom we love to get together with frequently. At our house it is easy. The problem starts when we are invited to other people's houses, with the exception of a few folks who are well versed in the area of Toddler Taming, it generally goes like this:
1. We arrive, hopeful that this will go better than the last time.
2. Goldie runs wild
3. She tries to stick her finger through her sister's soft spot, demands crackers
4. Break for dinner where she eats off of everyone's plates
5.Refuses to check potty, insists she does'nt have to go
6.Pees on carpet
7.Lays on top of baby while she is trying to nurse.
8.Time out.
9.Hits someone
10. See #8
11. Rinse and repeat
12.See #11
13.Throws tantrum
14.I gather our stuff and try to slink out door shouting thank yous over the screaming infant.
15.Crawl in hole and die
My friends have been really gracious, but I wonder seriously how many more invites we will recieve. I don't mean to sound shallow, but I don't want to give up these gatherings and I don't want to live in exile.
Is this going to get better? What am I going to do?
posted by Kirsten at
7:59 PM
6 Comments:
oooh boooooy... see, James is 20 months now and is just starting to get under our skin with some stuff like this. And I myself have no idea what to do. And I swear, if he tries to flip his baby sister over while she's in her bouncy seat one more time I'll scream. I wish you so much luck! If I find anything that works I'll let ya know!!
Eventually it's got to get better. Then we have the "teen angst" years to look forward to!
At least yours respond to time outs- no such chance with my son.
By the way, I have to say that I am extremely jealous that your daughter actually eats real food! A tomato? Holy crap, I thought I was going to have a stroke! You are awesome, and I bow humbly at your feet.
Well, I don't know if it will get better, but I will tell you that you've effectively put the nail in the coffin of any dimly glimmering desire to have another child! (And for that I thank you.)
See, now this is why B keeps telling me to wait to decide on having a 3rd. Some days I can't imagine not having a third, but raising one... whole different story.
Back to you -- the fact that you CARE how your child is acting means that you WILL get invited back. I don't care if a kid has a temper tantrum in a store (well, now I don't because I appreciate it a whole lot more, before I was a parent, i was just an ass about these kinds of things) as long as the parent is attempting to stop it. However, if the parent is doing nothing at all -- and I don't mean selectively ignoring the temper tantrum in a manner to make it go away -- but rather the here you want this, how about that, crap, that is what makes me nuts.
I think Goldie and L would have a blast throwing temper tantrums together and my house is Toddler proofed!
personal experience here: yes, it will get better! my feeling is that 18 months to 30 months is the worst time to be a parent. after that, the tantrums decrease exponentially (for nearly every child), the reasoning increases, and they stop pretending they can't hear you when you say "no."
not that parenting after 2.5 is EASY, but it's lots, lots better. and eventually she'll stop peeing on the carpet, i swear :)
So I still have 10 more months to go?? LOL oh boy. I love "sarah's" advice. Thank you! I've been checking these comments constantly like a mofo. lmao
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