These tantrums, man

apollonia10

DS has always been obsessed with books. He has books in every room of the house, including in his crib and in each car. Now he's discovered the magic of picking one up, bringing it to me, and plopping into my lap.

If I'm not cooking, or in the shower or something, I'll read the book he wants a few times and a few more books after that. But no matter how much I read, even if it's ALL THE BOOKS several times over, he has a tantrum when it's over. Just sobbing, desperately handing me a book, crying "Please, book! Please!" 

I feel like shit when it happens, but I kind of want him to learn that he has to deal with a little disappointment, especially since #2 is coming in 6 months and he's just not going to get the same kind of attention. But ugggh it's hard to tell my kid that I'll read to him later.

Is anyone else having issues with tantrums over repetition?

apollonia10

@leilei7369 - That's a good idea. I've just been saying "We'll read again later!" and he bursts into tears. Sometimes he'll bite out of anger, so I move him somewhere else, but I should just move myself. Thank you!!

apollonia10

Exactly. I think part of it is that he likes to read books, but the other part enjoys making me do something, you know? Boundaries are important, I just feel awful about it when it happens!

apollonia10

jfresh said:

Yep. Oliver has been book obsessed since the beginning, but almost all tantrums lately are because of them. If I try to read to him while he's not on my lap, boom tantrum (these are the worst). If I refuse because it's 4 am and my brain isn't even on yet, boom tantrum. If I try to actually read and turn the pages before he's ready, boom tantrum. If it's because the book ends I tell him it's ok, let's pick out another book. If it's something else I tell him story time is over and it's toy time, and grab or point to something new. As long as he is fed, clean diapered, and not in pain I try ignore the tantrums. I redirect sometimes but leilei is right, they have to learn.

Oh man, this is the worst. He starts to whimper before we even get to the last page because he knows the end is coming. There's no winning because even if I read the same book 100 times, he will flip out because I didn't read it 101 times. That's what tells me this is a testing thing, to see what he can get away with, because his default emotion is pissed after I'm done.

apollonia10

I'm sorry we're all dealing with this but I'm SO GLAD that DS isn't the only book bully!