Terrible two's

When i used to hear people talk about the "terrible two's" i would say "yeah, okay...it can't be THAT bad" well i am here to tell you that it is...well with MY SON it is! This boy is so stubborn and it takes A LOT to get through to him, but we are working on it. It is hard because i always wonder "what am i doing wrong?" "why is he acting this way?" but i've learned that it is normal and most children go through this...but it's hard when it's your first child and you have nothing to compare the behavior to..and i will be the first one to tell you that i should have started disciplining him a lot sooner..but i didn't so here we are...and let me tell you, he is not THAT bad...he is still so loving & sweet but he wants his way 100% of the time and that just can't happen. Some days i think, wow we must be over the hump but then the next day he is right back at it...i know it will soon pass (hopefully) but until then, we are where we are.
but, i sure do love this sweet face!!

this pic is from before we moved but i really don't have any recent ones since halloween
i read this article online and it made me feel a little better, although i hope this behavior doesn't last until he starts SCHOOL!!! YIKES!

When you are a parent for the first time and your little one gets to the terrible twos stage, it can be hard for both the parents and the toddler. Toddlers reach this stage at different ages but mostly when they hit the two year old mark. Some start a little earlier and others a little later and the length they stay in the terrible twos varies as well.

Some signs that your toddler is in the terrible twos are temper tantrums, screaming for no reason, banging head on things and plain old not listening.

There are different ways to handle a toddler going through the terrible two stage and sometimes how the parents and rest of the family react can determine if it will continue or stop. One thing to try to do is ignore the temper tantrum and screaming and throwing of toys. This does not always do much good though as many will continue to throw the toys and keep on screaming as well. But sometimes not doing anything does stop the tantrum for the time being so it doesn't hurt to give it a try.

Yelling back at the toddler is something that is not affective and just makes the toddler think that yelling and screaming is ok and usually just makes them do it all the more. When speaking to a toddler that is having a temper tantrum, try to be calm and keep your voice at a normal level. Raising your voice a little bit is ok but refrain from screaming and yelling back at the toddler.

Another thing to try is the time out chair. Putting a child in a time out chair can be started anywhere from about 18 months old and up. Starting it early on helps them learn what it all means. At first the time out doesn't have to be long, only a few seconds or as long as the toddler will sit in the chair. As time goes on and more time outs are given, longer periods of sitting should be given. The more they are repeatedly put in time out for doing something, the more they will learn that it is something they should not be doing. It may take time and many time outs before a toddler gets the idea but they do get the idea in the long run.

Get advice from friends and family that have already gone through the terrible twos and temper tantums with their children. Sometimes advice is good and other times it isn't but any help through this hard toddler time for the parents can be helpful and for a new parent.

Try everything you can to help you and your toddler make it through the terrible twos without much stress to your family or the toddler. Sometimes nothing works and you just have to try your hardest to relax and not get stressed out over nothing working. They do outgrow the terrible twos, sometimes quickly and other times not until they go to school.

Most important, remember that your toddler is learning every day and your reactions will factor in how they will react to things as well. And remember to tell that toddler that you love them very much even when punishing them with a time out.

WOW! Looks like everyone is thinking this baby is a girl. We shall see.