Home > Haute Mamas > Archives > 2008 > May > 19 > Entry
Buckling Under Pressure
Remember that bottle of two?
It lasted but a fleeting moment. It’s not an exaggeration by parents when they say that the twos are terrible and Soren is caught red handed in their deadly vice. I’ve taken to just shouting his FULL name whenever I speak to him as it’s certainly only been five seconds since his last offense. My sweet little tow head has turned into a whiny, crying, back talking, block throwing, screaming and kicking and hitting little, (should I dare say it?,) brat.
Naptime came a little late on Mother’s Day. When I put him in the bed, I followed the usual routine of kiss, hug, water, blanket tucked in. This time when I pulled the blanket up under his nose, just the way I always do, he said “No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”
So, I patiently tried again.
“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”
“It’s fine Soren,” I said in my most firm mom voice.
“No, dat blankie ain’t WIGHT.” he shouted.
“You’re fine Soren, go to sleep,” and I exited the room. I’m not one to give into tantrums and figured it would pass in a minute.
Then for 20 minutes he shouted:
“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.” “No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”
Go ahead, repeat that out loud to yourself for the next 20 minutes and tell me how you feel.
Five minutes in I opened the door and told him to “BE QUIET OR ELSE YOU’RE GETTING A SPANKING.” Threats are usually effective enough in our house.
“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”
15 minutes later his dad went in with his booming scary man voice, “SOREN JOSEF BE QUIET OR ELSE YOU’RE GETTING A SPANKING.”
“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”
I tried one last time to fix the blanket. At this point I would have done anything to make it stop. I would have folded that damn blanket into an origami swan if it meant he would stop shouting.
It didn’t work. So I gave him a hard smack on the bottom.
“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”“No, dat blankie ain’t wight.”
That was it. We were out of ammunition. What comes after spanking? Duct tape?
And so for the first time ever, he won. We decided to put the screaming kid in the car and go for a Mother’s Day drive. He was asleep by the end of the block.
Is it wrong to wish someone would take your kids on Mother’s Day so you can enjoy some peace and quiet? I ended up getting my wish as we spent the next two hours driving around while talking about grown ups stuff and coveting other people’s houses in the country. We made very certain to keep the car moving as much as possible.
I know how people end up on Super Nanny. They don’t intend to raise brats, it just happens. They give in a little and pretty soon here comes Jo with her naughty chair and her big baskets of rewards. Then she’s all: “Well, if you just would have put some tape on your kitchen floor right over here and offered them a lollipop for being a good boy you wouldn’t have this problem. Go Great Britain!”
Fact is, sometimes it’s just easier to give in.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Richie
Comments
By Robin
May 19, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
The sad fact is that sometimes there is nothing a parent can do when a kid gets out of sorts. You guys did the right thing in your change of venue.
By Lynn
May 19, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
OK, I had to laugh because it wasn’t me going through it. It sounds like he was just over the edge tired and couldn’t get himself back. Maybe it was a mantra he was using to comfort himself? If he was just screaming, but not getting out of bed, would that be OK? Could you go in the back yard where you couln’t hear him and have a glass of Mother’s Day wine?
I wouldn’t call it giving in, you tried an alternative tactic and it worked. Sorry, no Super Nanny for you!
By Richie Ann
May 19, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Mother’s Day wine was sounding good. The thing it this type of behavior is happening more and more often. I hope it passes soon!
By Chandra
May 19, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
I wish I could say it gets easier! You move from repetitively obstinate to downright stubborn with a “flop”. You know, when the kid just drops to the ground wherever you are and won’t move. Fun. Hang in there, though, sounds like you’ve got a pretty good handle on your wits (for now)!
By Richie's Mom
May 21, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
When you were little and my parents would babysit you, they always made sure that there was plenty of gas in the car. Soren sounds like his mother at two years old!