Tales of time out and smacks...

Hmmm, I think I feel my next column coming on... but anyways...

Last night the child screamed for 2 hours non stop because she didn't want to have a shower. i put her in time out in the bathroom like I do when she is misbehaving, and she climbed up and latched the door locked so that Willie had to break down the door to get her out. Which made her scream even louder. Eventually got her showered and into PJ's and put her to bed screaming. Shut the door. She got up and opened it and sat in the doorway screaming some more. Eventually got her calmed down after two hours and retreated to my room for some peace and quiet.

Not even. An hour later she woke up and started at it again, but she couldn't even tell me why she was screaming. She screamed so hard she made herself sick in her bed. Nothing I could do or say could stop her. So she ended up getting a smack. I mean, listening to a baby scream is one thing, but a three year old? She knows plenty of words to TELL me about her problem instead of incessant screaming. I think the smack (which was more like a tap on the leg) gave her a fright coz she settled soooo quickly after that.

And then I went back to my room and rang my Mum and cried for an hour about what a bad mother I am. How am I going to cope with three of them? I am sooo not cut out for being a Mum!

Feel a little better today, I had a talk with Maya about listening to Mummy when she is asked to do things (ie. have a shower) so will see what happens tonight when it's shower time...

Oh Emma......I think you are a great mum and you will continue to be so after the twins arrive.

I think I read it here that 3 year olds can be a handful and Maya was having one of those days.

Oh Emma....dont feel like that! I am sure Maya loves you too bits and knows that you love her too. We all had mums who screamed from time to time (partly our fault) and we turned out ok (he he ha ha). And I am sure our kids will be fine too....

May be get Willie to take her out for the day while you relax. I think all you need is a one good relaxing day. May be go to a spa or some thing......

Oh Emma! if it makes you feel any better, when I yell at jake, he puts himself in time out and then smacks himself in the head. He does it in shops which screams "I"M ABUSED BY MY PARENTS".
By anyway, hope Maya will have a nice shower tonight!

oh no Emma.....I dont know what else to say??? but hope today is better for both of you!!

WE tried Paris in the shower a few months ago and she had the HUGEST hissy fit. but then she has all of a sudden gone from being the girl who loved baths to the kids who goes "why do i need a bath, i don't want a bath, it's not bath night tonight"

she also is back at the "i will just yell and scream and cry instead of using my words" stage too Emma, so it must be a nasty girl thing that happens at this age.

We used to reassure her and blah blah, but we get to the point where it's like "STOP crying!" - i mean instead of saying to us, no i don't want to wear that jearsey, she will just cry as soon as we get it to put on her.. come on..

i try to reason with her, i try to console her, i try tough love and no response unless she asks nicely, and hey, it's really up to her what works at what time cos i have realised 3 yr old girls think they are in control no matter how hard we try to make it known that they are NOT! WE have reverted in the last few days back to our original namby pamby ways of taking time and well, not babying her but ensuring she is supported so that she has confidence to do thing herself and encouraging happy voices not grumpy ones and all that... and it seems to be working but when it's stressful at our house all hell breaks loose.

Hang in there, little girls can be nasty at this age... and i heard that subconsciously they like to try and get mum and dad to fight too as they become closer to their daddy and want more of his attention and realise that mummy gets daddys attention too.. (in a round about way through all these theories etc)

ok enuf.

hang in there. you luv her, she luvs you and think of it as training for the teenage years.

Ok Emma and Janine you have got me worried about the coming years now...!!

Emma, you are doing such a fab job and you are allowed to be grumpy! You won't be doing her any harm. Hope tonight went better...

Hehe Aimee - run now!!!

Janine - nice to know I'm not the only one with the child from hell atm. Maybe this is my punishment for having an easy time of the terrible twos!

Nikki - don't take my advice, then Maya and Hannah would both be scarred for life lol! Seriously tho, I do sometimes have a shower with her (or a bath when we are at Mum and Dad's) and she loves it, but it means Willie has to get her dressed and he won't go near her when she's feral. Grrrrr, he only likes "nice Maya". "Feral Maya" is my problem.

We're having a better day today. I just took her out for lunch and she is actually behaving herself quite well.

Emma, we are starting the terrible twos here so I know where you're coming from! And I have heard that 3 is worse than 2 so if I'm finding it hard now then I might have to run lol..

Nikki, why is it always like that? You have a really nice time with them then they do something naughty afterwards

I keep looking at Ayja hoping that she won't get to the grumpy icky toddler stage - she is just getting past the baby stage and into the wanting to help stage. i at least hope paris is back to being nice by the time Ayja gets there.. otherwise all hell will break loose. catfights anyone?,

Edited by mum2paris