I am losing my temper too often with my 2.5 y.o.

Sunflower777

I need some tips on how to cool down/keep my sanity. I've posted before about how much DH travels... same old story of me & 2.5 y.o. spending ALL of our days together while DS1 is in school. He is a typical 2.5 y.o. testing boundaries right now, and by the end of the day, I lose my temper with him faster than I should. I need to catch myself in that 5-second window where he's pushed my buttons and all I want to do is yell. Any suggestions? I feel like, for my part of it, I need to get away from him. Which I can do... but what do I do for him, to convey his behavior is not acceptable? Time out? Any suggestions on WHERE to put a 2 y.o. for an effective time out? 

FriskyPanda

DD wouldn't sit in time out at that age. I think that's when I started counting to 3. "If you don't xyz by the time I get to 3 then the tv gets turned off/toy goes into timeout(mantle)/no dessert/etc".

sunandsand

we do a 2 min timeout on the bottom stair. And we only have 3-5 rules that get the timeout. its the hardest age so far I think

adri77

This book was a lifesaver for me:

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Zenya

make sure you are getting enough sleep! at least 8 hours gives me the patience of a saint.

eta:  obviously I do not get that every day. I badly need it toinght though.  I can tell I'm on edge 

Leila'sMommy

Can you put him in a preschool or do swimming lessons, get out of the house and keep him active? I've learned that my DD is happiest when she is active, and when she gets bored, that's when she starts acting up and testing boundaries. I have two days off a week with her and we do dance class and swimming lessons, grocery shopping, trips to the park - keep her busy and it also helps her nap well.