Terrible Twos

Patrick Stewart was AMAZING!! However, we did leave at intermission because I felt horrible and tired from the stinkin flu. I bought a huge poster with him on it and plan to have it framed for my classroom.

The terrible twos have set in with M and, wow, is this hard. I have a very low tolerance for screaming and that's all M is doing lately. She changes her mind in a split second and then throws herself on the floor when she is misunderstood. She speaks very well for her age and can tell us what she wants, but refuses and loses it. It usually happens in the morning and then just before supper. We try to make sure she gets food early enough so the screaming doesn't happen and sometimes it works, but not often enough. Today she wouldn't take a nap. I left her in her crib for two hours and nothing. She just talked and talked. She didn't cry, she just talked. I know she needs a nap, but how can I explain this to her? She then of course became unbearable tonight around bath time. Of course, she has a bath phobia ever since the poop in the bathtub incident, TWO MONTHS AGO. Will she just let it go? No way. She freaks out every night, sometime less than others, but still hates the bath. She needs a bath, she needs a nap, she needs to eat veggies and we are losing patience. She had a huge fit tonight about getting into her car seat and became the stiff board. R had a heck of a time and I about went crazy. I know it's a phase and God willing, she'll outgrow it, but I don't know if I can make it through this one. The teen years are too distant to even fathom. She already has such an attitude. We tried the time out chair yesterday with some success, but it's HORRIBLE. She just screams. She is absolutely irrational about the strangest things. I love her so much, but want her to just ask using manners. I also want her to know that R and I are on the same side. She tends to know that Daddy will cave faster. He knows this too, but doesn't seem to change. Instead of ignoring the screaming, he keeps trying to console her. It drives me nuts. She is having a tantrum, don't console. She is misbehaving, don't make deals with her. I've seen my nephews and nieces go through this stage and watched my brothers handle it their way. I don't like any of their ways, but what does work? I think I'm going to tune in to Super Nanny this week and take notes.

Anyway, papers to grade.

LOL,
CDR