Pushing his limits with me...

[Cat Mom]

Am I the only one that has a child that is testing his limits already? Baden is choosing to have selective hearing in addition to outright defying me. And then when I discipline him, he gives me these huge tears and wants hugs and I feel like crap for even considering yelling at him. I know he's working me and knows how to manipulate me, but I feel like if I don't gain control now, I'll end up with a bratty kid.

Not being around children very much before now, I don't know if my kid is just ornery or being a normal toddler. In the last two days, he has learned how to unhinge the baby gate and go where he's not supposed to, dumped the cat's water bowl all over my hardware floors after telling him to get away from it, pushed the stool over to the counter and started grabbing anything he could get his hands on, pulled a chair out from the table so he could climb up and knock everything off the table, turned the TV on/off and then changed the channel for me, opened his sister's dresser and took out all of the folded clothes, he did this while I was changing her diaper. I think this is about it. The kid hardly leaves my sight because I can't take my eyes off of him for even a split second. He just moves so stinking fast. It's especially hard to grab him if I have the baby in my arms and I think he knows this. Oh yeah, when I'm feeding Alex, he likes to try to stand on the coffee table as well. He knows he's not supposed to climb on that but will anyway and when I tell him to get down, he'll just stare at me like "make me." Or stand there and smile. Same thing with an antique Arts and Crafts style chair we have, it's very springy and he thinks this makes a terrific trampoline. When I make him sit down in it and tell him not to jump up and down, he just looks at me and smiles, then laughs. AAAHHHH!!!

I told DH this morning we don't have a jealousy issue with him and the baby, however I think he's acting out instead. Or maybe he's just being a toddler.

I can't wait for Spring so I can take him outside and he can burn off some of this energy running around our yard.

[BC-blu_sky]

You have a normal toddler and even more so a normal toddler having a normal reaction to now having to share your attention. Stay tough. Don't give in. Try to have some one on one Baden time if you can each day.

[Ann123]

Just being a regular toddler and I believe so normal for their age. Steve is exactly the same way. Sometimes I wonder if he is possessed as he always gets this really naughty expression on his face when he is doing something he knows he is not supposed to. His favorite thing to do now is climb up and down the stairs, especially when I'm not looking. He also likes going through our clothes drawers and taking stuff out - especially the drawer of his dad's t-shirts. I try to be consistent with him in saying no and following up on a "punishment" if he doesn't listen after a few times of saying no. Basically he gets time out in his play pen, which probably isn't really much of a punishment but I think he gets the message. I also always have to find something for him to do to tire himself out - whether it's going to the mall and letting him run around the kiddie play area or going to the park when the sun is out. So, I hear you about praying for warmer weather!

[Sunshine81]

Totally normal!!! Sorry to tell you that!! But yes, I'm dealing with the same thing with Caleb right now! He is out of the gates faster then you can say stop, he is OUT and everywhere! I've had to come up with some different ways of latching it so he can't get out. He is smarter then me at times, but the times I'm smarter he use to get up on the couch and get into the shelf! (I've since found a way to keep him out of that!)

Plus, as everybody has said, he has to share you and he knows it! Does he watch movies yet? (Sesame street, baby einstein?) Maybe save those for the times you have to feed Alex, thats what I had to do when I was feeding Caleb and the twins were little. Granted they weren't as young as Baden!

I've found that swapping toys helps, if the kids are really getting into things I put away all the toys they have out and get a box of news ones out (new as in put back from the last time) this is HUGE, HUGE for us! Caleb gets right into unloading and playing with the toys! This has really helped us out this winter.

And Caleb also gets time out in his pack and play, its the only place I can put him and he doesn't get into anything. Sometimes he actually likes to play in it! I think he likes it because nobody can steal toys from him in there! So if I really need to do something without a little shadow, I stick him in there. He will actually watch about 15 minutes of a movie from in there! Then he isn't trying to turn the TV off when the twins are watching a movie!! These littles are way too smart!! LOL!

And I hear you! I cannot wait for spring/summer! And we can live outside!

[reeson8]

lol---the taking the clothes out of the drawers is what gets me!!! She now can go up & down the stairs so we have to shut all of the bedroom/bathroom doors or it will look like a tornado has struck. Dh left a glass of water on the table this morning and she tried to take a drink. Nevertheless, we had to change clothes as we were walking out the door to take Ky to school. We weren't late but later than normal today. (I don't like to be late). What works for me is getting her out of the house. Mall, grocery store, friends/family house etc. I'll just go to the car wash to get her out sometimes. Its good for me and her. It will pass. Then it will be Alexandra's turn

ETA: u know he probably isn't use to being home all the time now that your a SAHM. He has lost some stimulation from the daycare.