Thursday, January 18, 2007

My Little Toddler


It's hard to deny it any longer, I don't have a baby boy anymore.. I have a little toddler. It's kind of scary actually. When Elliot was a baby, he was pretty easy. Not fussy, didn't cry much, was easy-going about pretty much everything. I didn't want him to grow up - he's so sweet and innocent at the moment. But I can feel it all changing, slowly but gradually. He learned how to climb onto the sofas the other day so he could play with all of the items we'd tried to keep out of his reach, like the remote controls. He's down to one nap in the early afternoons, and apart from this, it's all-play all the time. If he sees me eating or drinking something different to him, Elliot will start whining. If things are out of reach, he'll cry, and sometimes he'll manage to get what he wants. We were playing on the floor the other day, and he pushed me from behind, put his whole weight into it. Later that day, he bit me. I wouldn't say he's naughty, but he's into everything and he's so demanding. When I tell him no, sometimes he laughs at me. Other times, he'll start throwing his toys. It's a whole different picture from Elliot as a baby, and I know I'm going to find it difficult to adjust to. I've never had experience with children before Elliot came along, I don't know what's normal, someone please reassure me. On the advice of my health visitor, I've picked up 'Toddler Taming' from the library, but I don't get a chance to read it except at night, when I'm tired. I've only managed the first two chapters, where the author has brought up the issue of the importance of confidence in your role as parent. And I am floundering on this very point! Help!

10 comments:

  1. You know since alanna's birthday she has been super whiny too. let me know what you learn.

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  2. Hang in there - sounds like that book is going to give you a lot of tips. I like the part about "the importance of confidence in your role as a parent". There are such challenging days that it's tough to suck it all up in the parenting department. But it all works itself out. The big thing is that you accept the good with the bad, and that you don't expect total perfection out of your performance.

    Good luck! Sounds like times are a changing in your household!!!

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  3. Toddlers are so much fun! They learn so much stuff every day. Do you have play dates with other kids and moms? That is a great time to talk about things your kid is doing and find out that your kid is not all that weird either since quite often the other mom will tell you that her child does something too. If that is not an option feel free to ask me all about toddlers since I have two although Evan is now more of a preschooler now (sniff).

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  4. ur I'm not much help on this front, so I'd suggesting giving the kid back to his parents and running away, a little difficult if you are the parent!

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  5. i'd go with shadowfalcon's answer...

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  6. Trust your instincts.

    Again, trust your instincts.

    Sounds like your son is a typical toddler. You'll do fine. Just pick your battles and learn what to let slide (that's the hard part!). Toddlerhood is tough, so it's not just you.

    Hang in there and enjoy what you can when you can. It goes by very quickly (though some days just not quickly enough, it seems!).

    -velvet

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  7. Yep, that all sounds very familiar! Harry thinks 'no' is the funniest word he's ever heard! I've got a brilliant article from an old issue of Junior I can send you (I could scan it, but the scanner's still not working). Can you email me your new address? K x

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  8. Demanding, whiny, biting, throwing, climbing, destroying, all normal. They definitely have to test everything out, that's how they learn about the world around them, and that's how they learn what is acceptable and not acceptable. Pick the most important areas you want to "discipline" on, things that involve safety, like not touching electronic equipment and not biting. Be consistent with consequences. It will take several (like hundreds!) reminders before he remembers not to do something. Once he's learned those areas, move onto new ones. Remember, toddlers love silliness and humor, use them to your advantage!

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  9. Thanks for visiting, sorry I haven't got back till now, had computer problems!!!!

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  10. Honestly--I can't believe how much he's grown!!! He's ADORABLE! (At least that hasn't changed!)

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