Arg!

[Amethyst Rose]

I just can't leave my son alone anymore. If I'm not in the same room with him, he's getting into trouble....whether it's playing with my makeup in the bathroom, pulling all the wipes out of the container in his bedroom, or putting things in the fish tank. He also won't listen when I tell him to do something or not to do something, and lies when he knows he's doing something bad... (I'll hear him in the bathroom and ask what he's doing and he says "just playing in my bedroom").

Talks aren't working, spankings aren't working, time outs aren't working. Normally if he's really bad he gets a spanking, sent to his room, and then talked to about what he did. We're very consistent with discipline, so that's not the problem.

Today, after the 3rd incident of putting toys and other assorted items in our fish tank while I was getting dressed (preparing to go to our Moms and Tots group), I've tried 'grounding him' sorta. I told him he couldn't go to moms and tots today. He was upset for a very long time over that, so I'm hoping it had some effect. Only problem with that is that it's the only adult interaction I get, so it punishes me, too.

He's normally a good kid, so this latest phase has me at the end of my rope....it's only been the last week or so that he's turned into such a brat. I know he's testing boundaries....but, how long does he have to test them for before he knows where they are, and cares?

He's driving me crazy. Couple that with pregnancy hormones and I don't know whether to yell or cry...

[Lunacie]

It's enough to make you pull your hair out, eh. Especially if it happens fairly often. My granddaughter does this kind of thing about once a week. Twice in the last couple of months she's gotten into stuff that set off my allergies/sensitivities/chemical illness. Once she poured out a whole bottle of nail polish remover -whew what a stink that was!

Last week it was a whole bottle of perfumed shampoo that her mommy got in a trade online. That stuff made me very sick. It was kinda funny though, all those towels I used to mop it all up and then put into the washing machine - I had to run them through wash/rinse cycles three times (no soap) before all the shampoo was rinsed out of them!

Today I caught her drawing on the box her big sister had decorated to take to school for Valentine's Day. I explained that she took her box to school last week to decorate it there, and that she took her Valentines to school on Monday, and that she would be having her Valentine's party tomorrow and then she could bring her box and all her Valentines home with her. But she still stomped off to the bedroom, beotching about "I don't like that gramma!" ;)

Of course she was back in a few minutes asking for something to eat. :lol:

[Amethyst Rose]

At this point, I think I'd gladly take 'about once a week', rather than the multiple times a day I've been dealing with during the last little while.

And the mood swings....Screaming, crying fits because I said "no you can't have...." followed by smiles and laughing 5 minutes later.

Two people having mood swings in one house is a bad combination. lol

Edit: as I clicked the save button to post this post, I heard a weird noise from his bedroom. I thought he was innocently listening to his story telling bear. However, he had pushed his toy box over to the closet and was taking all his clothes off the hangers and throwing them on the floor. Sigh. I have a headache.

[Lorrie]

Whoa, you sound just like me! I have been going through the same thing with my 2 year old granddaughter. I think her problem is too many people disappearing from her life though. Her mommy died last September, and her older brother had to go live with his real dad a few days before x-mas. When I yell at her, she cries and points to the place where he used to be watching TV and keeps saying "all gone, all gone", as long as I sit in the room, they both are fine, as soon as I walk out of the room, they both get in to everything they know is wrong ( the other culprit is not quite 1-1/2.) Besides the "all gone" thing she says, the other day I went to run errands alone for the first time in a very long time, when I got back she ran and jumped into my arms and just cried and cried. Her dad ( my son) works pretty much every day 10-12 hours a day, maybe she thinks I am all she really has left, I just don't know, but I can't clean the house or anything for the past few weeks!

[Lunacie]

At this point, I think I'd gladly take 'about once a week', rather than the multiple times a day I've been dealing with during the last little while.

And the mood swings....Screaming, crying fits because I said "no you can't have...." followed by smiles and laughing 5 minutes later.

Two people having mood swings in one house is a bad combination. lol

Edit: as I clicked the save button to post this post, I heard a weird noise from his bedroom. I thought he was innocently listening to his story telling bear. However, he had pushed his toy box over to the closet and was taking all his clothes off the hangers and throwing them on the floor. Sigh. I have a headache.

Oh yeah, I hear that. Everything is a major heartbreak at that age. That's why it was so funny when she said "I don't like that gramma" instead of wailing at the top of her lungs and stomping all around the room. At least this one isn't a climber - her sister was and still climbs on the kitchen counters to get things off the fridge or the shelves.

[ladyalpha]

I don't have any tips or ideas for you hon. Just wanted to let you know that I completely understand and relate to what your going through. My son is very intense (for lack of a better word) with his emotions and the way he handles being told no.
I have been told that it is "normal" boyish behavior from a friend of mine that has three boys. They just tend to be more aggressive than most girls and that comes out in the way they have their tantrums and get into everything they possibly can. The last time my son went into the bathroom alone we had to clean the whole bathroom, and give him a bath, due to baby powder being Everywhere! I wasn't real happy.
But I can remember when my daughters would get up in the middle of the night and eat ice cream or other messy snacks, and if we were lucky it was done in the kitchen..but usually was done in their room.
I think it is a plot to see just how much we can really handle. lol The smiles and laughs are there to keep us from losing our minds completely. lol
Blessings and strength,
ladyalpha

[DreamSpell333]

we are going through the same with hannah. She gets into everything as well. messes her room up, torments the dog. chases him around the house. My MIL refuses to FIX him,so now I have to constantly keep an eye on the both of them. She's noticed that he gets "excited". that I really dont know what to do about.
She's suppose to be moving out,but isnt in any hurry and I cant exactly PUSH her out the door!! I cant wait till the dog isnt here anymore. I normally love dogs,but i REALLY dont like this one right now. He's lucky that im able to keep my cool. I know it's just in his nature,but she's my LITTLE girl and she shouldnt be learning these things now..
So I cant really give you any advice,as im at my ropes end on what to do . I've . It doesnt help that with the weather,she cant go outside to play very often. I also cant go out alot because of the baby. I dont want him getting sick now.

:hugz: to you

[WillowsMuse]

Durn kids! I'm having similar problems with my five year old, but not quite so mischievous. He just couldn't care less about my rules.

:hugz:

[Kalika]

:hugz:

This is how Caileb is being too.... and gods, if I have to go through 2 more years of this, I'm going to be insane... and bald.

I don't have any advice for you... because I have yet to figure out exactly what works. :( But, I hope knowing you aren't alone will help in some small way.

[Amethyst Rose]

Today has been a good day. I think that yesterday's punishment actually struck a cord with him. We've had a couple not listening moments, but I've just had to threaten no moms and tots and he starts listening. My fingers are crossed that he's not just lulling me into a false sense of security. LOL