Tame Your Toddler In Four Easy Steps
My son has been working my last nerve lately. Y’all know I love him, but it’s like the little guy is staying up late with a copy of “Driving Your Mama Crazy In 3 Easy Steps” tucked under his pillow in his crib. And he’s taking notes. (When the updated version comes out, he’ll be writing the foreword.)
But I realize he’s almost 3 so this stage of development is normal. He’s still unsure of his emotions at times, and his vocabulary is expanding but not as fast as he (and I) would like. So I do my part to make sure I don’t karate chop my child lose my cool.
I came up with a couple ways I deal with the insanity. I’m calling them the “Four G’s.” Commit them to memory. This is one of the few times I happen to know what I’m talking about.
Be a Goofball
When my son acts up and starts scowling at me, I know it’s time to pull out the big guns or risk his bad mood ruining what’s left of the day. So I scoop him up, put him on my knee and jiggle him a bit, kind of similar to Bill Cosby in this clip.
I call it “Shaking the grumpies out.” Jiggle him about three times and he’s usually smiling. If he’s really in a funky mood, I grab his leg and pretend I’m shaking the “mad” out of his foot, or I’ll brush his leg off like the grumpiness is a piece of dirt.
The lesson? Fight the natural urge to get annoyed when your little one stomps their feet at you, or when they get their “grown man grumpy” on. If you can make them laugh, you’re golden. Be silly and they’ll follow suit.
Be Grateful
Last week my son was really giving me a hard time about something. I can’t even remember but I know I felt like running out the door and sitting in the middle of the front yard for a minute. I had to close my eyes and remember that I was paired up with this little guy, for better or for worse. I was selected to be his mom and that’s something I don’t take lightly.
The lesson? When he’s not acting a fool (and even when he is), he is my favorite little guy in the whole world. I love him and I’m grateful to have such a funny, caring, smart little boy to call my son.
Be Good
I can’t even express how embarrassed I was when my son started chastising his sister in the same tone of voice that I used when I was frustrated. “Oh, for goodness sakes!” he yelled. It stopped me in my tracks. Why is this little 3’4″ boy sounding just like me? I needed to nip this in the bud – quick.
The lesson? Now when I get frustrated with the kids, I pay much more attention not only to what I say, but how I say it. I know I need to set the example.
Be Generous
On those days when my son is the perfect angel, I’m the happiest woman on the block. The days are just better. So when he has his “act right” cap on, I’m in full-blown appreciative mommy mode.
The lesson? I’m generous with the praise and I make sure he knows that this good behavior doesn’t go unnoticed.
And here’s one more “G”:
Have a Game Plan
If I know we’re about to the go to the store and I need to get in and out and I don’t have time for tantrums or whining about something they want to get, we have a pep talk before we get out the car. “Listen babies, we’re going in Target for 15 minutes. We’re on a mission to find the baby wipes.” I turn it into an episode of Dora the Explorer. “First we have to go past the new ladies’ dresses – don’t let Mommy put any into the cart – then we have to run by the shoes – again, don’t let Mommy put any in the cart – and then we’ll make our way to the BABY WIPES!” They have fun, we laugh and I’m in and out in 10 minutes.
What tips and tricks do you have to keeping your sanity amongst toddlers?
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