Wha happened to my sweet children?

Every word that comes out of Kaylee's mouth is no. It doesn't matter what it is, it is always no. Is it me or was it easier when they were younger? Tonight they went into the basement and destroyed the place plus my printer. (they pulled the ribbon out of it, if anyone knows how to fix that I would be forever grateful). They are into turning the water on and playing in water. You tell them no and I swear they can't hear or they don't understand English. i put all their books on their bookshelf and not 2 minutes later they had all the books knocked off just to make a mess. Kaylee I swear changes her clothes 100 times per day. Then we have clothes all over her room.

You know we were just talking the other day wonder when they are going to talk in sentences, well now it is mommy don't dance, daddy don't do this or that. I feel like we are constantly telling them NO. They have tore down there blinds in their room and broke the blinds in our room. Is this normal or do we just need to get tougher with them. I feel that they are always in time out, but man what else do we do. Oh yeah they are into fighting, biting, and hitting everyone if they don't get their way. I will not tolerate this behavior, but still it seems they just don't get it.

I just want to know if anyone else with kids this age or older remember this age. Is the beginning of the 3's?

 

I hate to break it to you...but I've found three much tougher than two!! It really started probably about two months ago. Everything is a battle, and I mean everything. I'm sure it's different for different kids, and being a twosome I'm sure they egg each other on!! Juat remember - all phases eventually have to end

 

Welcome to insanity! Yes, that is the beginning of the 3s. Ours started right before 3 and now at 3.5, I am still pulling my hair out. They are the sweetest things one moment...and the next minute, I swear the aliens exchange my babies for someone else's.

My advice...
Change your strategy re: discipline.
Try to focus on the positive.
Remain consistent.
Pick your battles.
For instance, I would pick up her clothes and put them on the shelf in her closet. This way, she doesn't have access to them and you don't have get frustrated every time you have to pick them up. [I probably should print this out and post it around my house. It is so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of this age.]

We are not perfect and many times we find ourselves becoming more and more frustrated to the point of exhaustion. So we sit back and take a time out to change strategy. Just this week we realized we were -once again- being so negative. So, we have changed our strategy and watching Super Nanny last night helped reinforce it. She often helps bring me back to reality. The family last night has 6 week old twins, a 3 yo and a 4 yo. Or I watch Jon & Kate + 8. :laughing:

The woman who played Blair - can't think of the 80s show - has a book called Creative Correction. In the back are some great ideas on discipline, reward systems, etc. Since ours are so into time, we are working on a daily schedule. We have always had a schedule but now it will be written for them to follow during the day.

I talk to many parents and we all have agreed, its no longer the terrible twos but the trying 3s. And some days at our house, it is the terrifying 3s.

Also, for a great read - I used to be a good mother before I had kids.

 

QUOTE(ThreeLittleSnowflakes @ Feb 21 2008, 10:54 PM) [snapback]634830[/snapback]
Everything is a battle, and I mean everything. I'm sure it's different for different kids, and being a twosome I'm sure they egg each other on!!


They do egg one another on...I already brought out the speech...if your sister told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it? Then there's the "why?" I have told them "because I am the mom."

Hang in there!

 

Thansk everyone for the advice. I am beginning to feel like I need to put everything in a storage shed or lock them in a padded room. Just kidden. I just didn't know that it began so early. If they do something they blame the other one right away. It is unreal. Oh and Kaylee mother's Kelby to death. She tells him to get in time out or goes and spanks him because she recognizes when "he" does something wrong, but then she can't seem to understand when she gets in trouble. :huh: Okay well I am glad we are not alone!

 

No advice here. I am right there with you. We are just hoping to make it age 4.

 

QUOTE(Angie26 @ Feb 22 2008, 09:28 AM) [snapback]635234[/snapback]
or lock them in a padded room. Just kidden. I just didn't know that it began so early.


Actually, I am the one who wants to be locked in the padded cell.

The storage shed is a good idea. :laughing: If they can not cooperate while playing or if they choose not to clean up, I clean up the toys and put them in the laundry room. They get them back the next day but not before we talk [again] about why they lost them. And if they pitch a fit when I put them up, we discuss it once again. We then ignore the fit. It is so hard to ignore, but for us extinction works in this case.

I am waiting for the compliant 4s...