My DS turned 2 in August. He has seriously started with the terrible 2s (although, I've heard 3s are worse...) and he is driving me crazy. I feel TERRIBLE because I have about zero patience right now. I'm wondering if anyone else is having a harder time dealing with a toddler since becoming pregnant. I'm hoping I'm not alone & not just a terrible/crappy mom. I guess I'm just having a pretty tough day. I also wonder how the crap I'm going to deal with his nonsense when this LO gets here & I've had no sleep. Has anyone else been feeling this way? Did anyone else go through this with a previous pregnancy & toddler, baby & mom turned out ok? TIA.
Re: Moms with toddlers (or other ages)....
The book 1-2-3 Magic (or something like that) has some good ideas. So does the Love and Logic series. There's one for the early years https://www.amazon.com/Love-Logic-Magic-Early-Childhood/dp/1930429002/ref=pd_sim_b1
Anyway, the biggest thing I've found is to be consistent on things that really need to stop in terms of how you deal with them. The other thing is anticipating behaviors and preventing them from happening. I've found that usually the behaviors come out when they aren't getting attention or can't communicate something. They want to help. Let them help where they can. They want to be independent and make their own decisions. Let them, but give them 2 acceptable choices. For example, do you want to wear this shirt or this shirt? Do you want to eat one of these 2 things? etc... GL. It's not easy, but I'll take 2 any day over 3.
My DS is almost 3. We seem to have skipped the terrible 2s and are just now dealing with tantrums and major defiance. For example, today I had to literally chase DS down our street after he took off running. If our neighbor at the end of the street had not just pulled into her driveway and jumped out of her car to stop him, he would have run right out onto the main road in our subdivision.
DS is definitely testing me, and up until this point he has gotten away with a lot simply because I have been tired, nauseated, and totally out of it. And I think he knows this! Now that I'm feeling a bit better, I am definitely more firm and consistent with him.
Hang in there! That's what I keep telling myself. I know I'm a good mom, but we all have our days when we feel like we're not.
DC #1 10/2008 TTC #2 since 1/2010
Natural miscarriage @ 5w3d 1/2011 Chemical pregnancy 4/2011
Yup, that's my DS... sometimes. But then he asks me to "cuwwel" (cuddle) before bed & I forget what a monster he was that day.
m/c '08 DS born 8-13-09 2 m/c in '11
They are clever, aren't they? They know exactly what to say to melt our hearts. My DS loves to cuddle still too! I love bedtime because he's a total angel and I get to hear him say "I love you...night night Mommy."
DC #1 10/2008 TTC #2 since 1/2010
Natural miscarriage @ 5w3d 1/2011 Chemical pregnancy 4/2011
They are lucky that they're cute!!
m/c '08 DS born 8-13-09 2 m/c in '11
I had zero patience with DD1 (18-24 months) while pg with DD2. This time around I'm snappy/crankypants at both of them. So far they are unscathed, but I just try to counterbalance it with a lot of snuggling, small activities together (drawing, reading, etc). Its hard b/c I am so tired all.the.time. Plus I'm working on my Master's, DH was OOT for 9 wks, and I had horrific m/s. Life has been a circus.
Do what you can with him, when you can and try not to beat yourself up over it. DD1 doesn't remember my pg with DD2 and she was 25 months old when DD2 was born.
Hang in there!! {hugs}
m/c '08 DS born 8-13-09 2 m/c in '11
My DS is getting there. This weekend, I just about had it. I do find myself needing to take a break before I yell at him. For example, he is getting to the stage where he wants to do everything himself. He asked for milk. I hand him the sippy and he threw it at me and freaked out. So I walked into the other room and decided to ignore the behavior. DH told me later that he just wants you to put the sippy down on the chair or floor and he will pick it up on his own when he is ready. Same with his snack.
You are not alone and they won't remember. Most of the time I have a good kid, but there are times when my hormones get the best of me and I get short with him.
My DD will be 8 in November; and my tolerance level is at an all-time low. Especially first thing in the morning and she is dragging her feet like she always does getting ready for the day. We do everything that is "suggested" - she bathes the night before, clothes are picked and laid out the night before, backpack by the door ready to go? and she still drags her feet. And I have a zero tolerance of it at the moment and feel horrible when I snap at her to move her sluggish butt.
And then there are just moments where she is a typical 7 year old and fails to use her common sense - any other time I might laugh at the situation and now it is just infuriating. I try to check myself and also warn her when mommy knows she is not on her best behavior. It helps. Sometimes.
I am right there with you!! I have a 2 1/2 year old, and she started the terrible 2's this month! Every day when she gets up from her nap around 4 she kicks me, pulls my hair, scratches me... it's awful... I just about lose it everyday, and my husband has to take over when he gets home from work. I have so much on my plate right now... I work 6 hours every day (at home), trying to work out 3 days/week, being pregnant, taking care of my naughty daughter.... getting dinner ready! Granted, I have help half the day from my mom who watches my daughter so I can work... but I have no clue how I'm going to do all this once #2 arrives......... Any help would be appreciated over here too........
Justmeardle... I hope it gets better for you too! I can't imagine how much worse 3's can be!!!!!!!!!!
justmeardle, I?m going to try using your original posting then fill in the blanks:
He has seriously started with the terrible 2s (although, I've heard 3s are worse...) and he is driving me crazy. Well I can say being a mom of two boys which are 4-? and a 23 month old it ain?t easy - especially being 17 weeks pregnant on top of that. My hands are full. Oh! Those terrible 2?s as well as 3?s are just that - TERRIBLE! Here just don?t let them get you down! They will pass! In fact I really don?t know what I?d do without my older son - he?s a blessing right now helping me take care of his little brother. I?m not saying I still don?t have problems with both but; he helps me some!
I feel TERRIBLE because I have about zero patience right now. Be the truth known - I do not know any woman, mom, wife who at some point in time does not have this feeling when under stress, strain whether pregnant or not! Our hormones do make us somewhat more impatient especially when pregnant. We all suffer from this - so don?t let it get you down! This is completely normal!
I'm wondering if anyone else is having a harder time dealing with a toddler since becoming pregnant. YES! Most definitely!
I'm hoping I'm not alone & not just a terrible/crappy mom. You?re not alone in this one at all! We all feel this way at times!
I guess I'm just having a pretty tough day. I also wonder how the crap I'm going to deal with his nonsense when this LO gets here & I've had no sleep. Has anyone else been feeling this way? Did anyone else go through this with a previous pregnancy & toddler, baby & mom turned out ok? See Story below!
Story my mom told me: Just after the birth of my first son ?
Laura, there are going to be times when you feel like crap on those days when it seems like nothing?s going right the way you want, planned. Here is when you stop; look, listen - and then you just start humming a happy tune (something cheerful) make yourself a cup of coffee, open a coke, pour a glass of milk or whatever. Then turn on the radio, TV, or just get a book sit down with that LO and enjoy cuddling, reading to, listening to or watching something while he?s in your arms!
Always remember - a day is only a second; a week is but a minute; a month is only an hour; a year merely a day! Blink he?s starting school, blink again he?s driving off in the car, blink a third time he?s gotten married to that little girl down the street!
Now are you getting my drift!!!
You're OK just follow your motherly instinct all will take care of itself!