Do the terrible 2s ever end?!

[DixieWitch]

I'm not sure how much more of this I can take! I'm slowly going crazy and it seems to get worse as each day passes. Tera :devil: is getting worse and worse with her actions. I'm constantly cleaning her room because she feels the need to take everthing out of her toybox and closet. No big deal. What is the big deal is the fact that she sneaks food out of the pantry and brings it into her room. :shaker: I was in there cleaning up yet again yesterday evening and I found a torn up bag of hotdog buns. Now, I could understand her doing it if we weren't feeding her, but the child eats, alot!! The day before, I found what was left of 4 pieces of bread in a bag and a roll of ritz crackers. Not to mention she's purpously destroying her books and vcr tapes. Oh and there's the potty training thing. I took her to the potty numerous times yesterday. Tried to get her to wear her panties, but she refused. Not 5 minutes later, she pooped in her diaper. This happened 3 times!! Then there's the Carebear dress I worked so long and hard making for her. She managed to tear it. :awwman: And then there's the material for a Spongebob dress I was going to make her...she found my (what I though was) well hidden scissors and cut it all up. I know they can be rough at this age, but my son was no where near this bad at this age. I finally broke down yesterday and made her sit facing the corner, holding what was left of the hotdog buns. Could it be that I am not disciplining her enough? We spank her when she does something wrong, but maybe she's immune to that and needs something more. To some, her actions may seem like normal, petty things for a 2 (almost 3) year old. But I am seriously on the edge of breaking down here! :muwaha: I'm supposed to watch my nephew once my sister goes back to work after having him. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to take care of a newborn and chase after a 3 year old!!! Maybe having a baby in the house will help her to calm down. Please tell me what I am feeling is normal!! That my 2 year old is not out of control and I just need to discipline her more!! :ack:

[Darakash]

Please tell me what I am feeling is normal!! That my 2 year old is not out of control and I just need to discipline her more!! :ack:

EGAD! Does that sound like my daughter at that age! She destroyed all of my makeup (twice); I caught her in her room in the morning with my left over birthday cake AND the gallon of milk from the fridge, with half of what was left of it spilled all over! VCR tapes and books were hands off unless they were being used....she actually stuck a sandwich in the VCR once too! EEEEK. But, I dunno exactly when it happened....she just stopped with that stuff, after I told her nine million times that such things were unacceptable, there was one or two spankings in there somewhere too....Now, she is 4, going on 5 in a month, and she STILL apologizes for some of the things she did back then!

I guess the only advice i can give, even having survived it, is just to put things that matter out of reach as best you can (though I know she will find them anyway, as she did the scissors) and just continue to discipline her the best way you know how. Make sure she knows it makes you SAD as well as annoyed/angry when she destroys things and also that there are just SOME things she is not allowed to touch at all...she will get it soon, I promise!

[Tzhebee]

*sigh* Definately normal...My son just turned two, and he's starting a lot of the same things. Picking up toys and randomly throwing them around...actually...he'll pick up ANYTHING and throw it, just because he can. I've tried saying no, slapping his hand, taking things away...doesn't phase him.

My personal favorite is when he accidently drops a piece of food on the ground, he won't eat it because it's "yucky", instead he'll stomp it into the ground...then 10 seconds later, he'll be walking around with something in his mouth, and it's a week old french frie he found under something! :sick:

Just lately, he's gotten into a phase where he has to have something with him at all times. Not small things like a toy, which wouldn't be a problem. But big things, like his blow-up cookie monster innertube, or a full sized pillow. You can't get them away from him! Try and put a child in a car seat wearing an innertube some time. :dis:

I figure it's just a phase. Actually,...I hope and pray this is just a phase!!! And that if I ignore him, he'll tire of it and start behaving like the good little boy I know he can be. :hugz: to you and lots of luck and patience.

[farm girl]

Well, every 2 year old is different, but they are all mischievious! My son was the worst. He is lucky I had children after him!!! He snuck a whole pie into his room at night- and ate most of it! Destroyed books. My stuff. Colored the walls. Took his diaper off and would mess on the floor. Ack! It DOES end. (if it didn't, I would be in the looney bin) :lol:

[phoenix1010]

Oh what fun do I have to look forward to!!!!
I have a 20 month old.

[Ceres]

I dont think she is out of control and I dont think you need to discipline her more. If you are asking for advice, mine would be to make your expectations of her more realistic and simplify your life. I can give examples, but I dont want to seem like I am picking apart what you are already doing since you are already frazzled and dont need some know it all telling you what to do ;) Let me know

[bladeraven]

Rolling on the floor laughing....you're describing my Grasshopper.....I've confiscated pop tarts he's hidden in his backpack........they are at an age where they are learning how to make us get grey hair faster......lol

[Valkie]

:rotfl:

all I can think about is my boys and the habit they had of hidding food behind the couch in the living room. When I finally discovered it, it was like a science experiment from hell... I never knew that there was a fungus of that color...

[wolf]

The terrible twos are about power and control ... make sure it remains in your hands. You're the tall one, right?

Be very clear and very consistent about limit setting. It's harder to undo a bad behavior when you relent occasionally.

Involve the little one in tasks like room cleaning ... reward good performance, but with something that's healthy, so not necessarily a snack. Maybe some time playing an outdoor game that's really loved ... playing with a ball or something. Run her around and tire her out!

Potty training will happen when it happens.

[spirit wind]

Oh what fun do I have to look forward to!!!!
I have a 20 month old.
My littlest 'monster' is 18 months! And I have just spent the better part of an hour cleaning up a 1kg tub of margarine from off the COUCH!!!!! No, I am not kidding here. He decided to do finger painting with my tub of margarine :( He is no little angel any more. I think it started when we chopped his little curls off his head. They must have contained all his goodness because i swear it's not the same little boy anymore.

I know this is only the start of the 'terrible twos' and I am bracing myself for the next couple of years to come. I totally understand how you feel Dixiewitch :) But there is not much more we can do. Apart from locking them in a cupboard til they are 5yrs :) I am only joking on that guys - no flames ok! But you have to admit that the thought does fleetingly cross your mind sometimes :)

I usually put everything I can away so there is nothing he can get a hold of that would really upset me if it was broken/destroyed/mutilated etc. But there is only so much you can do.

Good luck :hugz:

[Ceres]

The twos are annoying because they are just into everything, but since there really isnt malice in it, its tolerable. Wait till three and exploring their sense of self and therefore really trying to push your buttons when they are doing these things specifically to annoy you, not just because they are curious explorers. :)

[Valkie]

My favorite that the youngest has pulled so far:

Every morning, he watches us make coffee. Well, hubby was making it the other day and the phone ran. He left the little one on the chair by the counter... of coarse, the little one decided to try to make the coffee.

When hubby walked back into the kitchen, the baby had put the coffee grounds into the suger, the suger into the coffee, had his cup of milk filled with coffee grounds, and was playing in the suger that he had spilt on the counter. :lilangel:

[lovemy1dane]

I t ends, but comes back around 12 years old.