Independence and a 2.5 year old...advice please!

mnj917

Okay...DD is about 2&1/2 and is DRVING ME NUTTY!  Everything we try to do is a struggle - from getting in the car to taking a bath.  She wants to do the exact opposite of what I ask her to do.  Yesterday we were at the mall and she actually laid on the floor and screamed in the middle of the food court because I wouldn't buy her and orange soda. 

I understand she's asserting her independence and trying to see how far she can take it with me, but I swear, sometimes I think she's really just trying to get a rise out of me!  Anyway, any ideas/advice in redirecting her are welcome - also, any coping methods for me when she's freaking out in the middle of the mall would be great too! 

TIA! - jen

Sxia

If you get the magic answer, please PM me.

My DD is 3 and keeps telling us she will "meet us there" when we want to go someplace. I.E. she goes one way while we go another.

And the "I don't want tos" are driving me nuts. I'm actually turning into my mother the pessimist and saying things like, "Wanting to do something has very little to do with life."

JARbaby

My Mommy group is bringing in a counselor to give a talk on toddler discipline becasue we are ALL suffering. All our kids (11) were born April-Aug 2007.

I have had good success with 1-2-3-Magic though.

mags1984

My DD is also 2 and a half and likes to do everything herself weather she can actually do it or not... I try to let her try and then she usually lets me help. As for the tantrums in public i have zero tollerance for this if DD does this we leave! She is getting better because she knows i mean business when i tell her something. I'm not a mean parent just firm and that seems to work pretty well, but i know every child is different. Good luck.

moroccojade

Someone on another board recommended _Playful Parenting_.  It has changed my LIFE.  And hers.  I read half in one afternoon.  Was skeptical, but wanted to give it a try.  Worked like a charm.  Complete 180 at our house.      Looking forward to reading the other half. 

ridesbuttons

Lol at the food court story.  Our 2.5 year old threw himself on the grass crying this weekend because we wouldn't go back to the firetruck ride for the 4th time at the fall fair.  What do you do?  We just ignored him.  And eventually redirected him to something else.

 I remind myself that this is typical behavoir when it does happen, and virtually every parent has been through it.  I certainly don't get mad or embarrassed.  It's just part of the journey.

Now, having said that, the grass-crying episode was an unusual occurance, my battle right now is "I want".  Oh gawd, it goes on and on and on.  I want this, I want that, I want the other thing.

Sigh.

 

snickerdoodle27

My son wants to do everything himself! I usually let him try it alone first, and he'll sometimes realize that he needs help. Other times he just gets so mad that he doesn't want help at all and throws a tantrum. I try to keep reminding myself he's not doing it to torture me! As far as the mall, I would have picked him up and left. I have zero tolerance for tantrums either. YOu can rationalize with a toddler whose throwing himself on the floor! For tantrums at home I usually just walk away from him until he calms down.