Embarrassed: Pool Tantrum

britneythebridexo

Hi I'm somewhat new here, but that's not the point. Today was the 2nd day that our apartment pool was open, I was so excited to take my son (8/20/2011). So I got our things together; the bathing suits, his floats, pool pass, the towels. I sprayed us down with sunscreen after lunch and we headed down to the pool. Just keep in mind that I'm 35weeks pregnant right now with my next little boy. So we reach the pool and I make the rules very clear. Stay with mommy, no squirting people in the face with your toy, and when mommy says it's time to go, we go. He replies Yes Ma'am. After about 50mins at the pool I let him know that we'll be returning home soon. So after about 10mins I stand up and grab his hand letting him know it's time to go. He begins to say no I don't wanna leave and all of the things that they say when they're having too much fun but it's just time to go. As he's protesting I'm getting him to go over to our chairs where our things are. He then proceeds to jerk from me and run away jutting across and running around the pool which is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! So I ran right after him big belly and all. Yelling Kent stop! Kent come back here NOW! I finally caught up to him and I was very angry and firm with him I told him that we are not coming back to the pool and that he does not get to go to the zoo tomorrow and he is getting time out when we get home. He just continues to sass off to me. I grab our things. I grab his hand tight and make our way to the steps. Where he decides he just isn't coming. So he slumps down and quits moving. I tell him Kent lets go. He says He's scared I tell him the ants won't bother him. I finally get him through the gate and on our walk home. He begins to slump again and pull and tug. I proceed to tell him to come on and that we are not going back to the pool. By this time I have got so many stares by the college kids who live at the same place and I'm feeling nothing but contractions in my back. I don't care I have to get in the house and begin discipline and rest so I don't go into labor. He pulls and tugs and slumps and whines and cries all the way home. I finally get in the door where he runs away into the kitchen. I then remove his swimwear take him upstairs to his room where I put his new underwear on and some dry shorts. I explain to him that he's in time out now because of everything he done at the pool, which I explained. He begins to cry and protest as I close the door to his room. I am also crying too....
I don't know what to do...

Bigboobsmcgee

You did exactly what I would have done.

I'm not trying to be mean but has your toddler never had a tantrum before? What you are describing (in great detail I might add) is so completely  normal that I kept reading, waiting for the "bad" part of the story but it was all pretty textbook toddler behavior.

My 3 year old does what you are describing at least once a week. I struggled with it when I was pregnant too so don't over do it and lay low until you have the baby or go to the pool with another adult.

Bigboobsmcgee

And also, you can prep a kid for the upcoming situation, tell him the rules, your expectations, etc, but they don't always listen when they are having fun. You know that!

britneythebridexo

I think it's because I see the way he is with his father. He listens to him a lot better than me.

michelle7482

Been there! You did everything right don't worry about it. I've had to drag my 3 year old out of places tons of times unfortunately with her little sister in my arms at the same time. Fun, right?!?!?

Bigboobsmcgee

britneythebridexo said:

I think it's because I see the way he is with his father. He listens to him a lot better than me.

My son listens to dad a lot better than he listens to me. He's more stern. I'm working on that.

beStillbeBright

Bigboobsmcgee said:

You did exactly what I would have done.

I'm not trying to be mean but has your toddler never had a tantrum before? What you are describing (in great detail I might add) is so completely  normal that I kept reading, waiting for the "bad" part of the story but it was all pretty textbook toddler behavior.

My 3 year old does what you are describing at least once a week. I struggled with it when I was pregnant too so don't over do it and lay low until you have the baby or go to the pool with another adult.

This.  When my son was three he did that all the time.  Three is worse than 2.  Threenagers, google it.  We would go to the park on almost a daily basis and every day I would tell him, when it's time to go, it's time to go.  Most of the time he was okay with it, but a couple days a week he would pitch a good one.  It's pretty textbook.