Toddlers and Tantrums

It has been sass city around here lately.

I thought for a hot minute that we were getting through the terrible two’s with some ease…until the last two weeks came rolling around. The tantrums are daily, the attitude is out of control, and I find myself giving in (for the sake just a little quiet) far more often than I would like to admit. Analiese has quickly gone from 2 to 16 and it is blowing my mind.

I’m not quite sure what flipped the switch, but something set her off. She is talking back, screaming “NO!” whenever I ask her to do anything, and lucky me, she just starting hitting. I’ve been b***h slapped roughly 4 times this week.  Counting isn’t working, time outs are useless, and when I raise my voice she just matches it. I have uttered the phrase “I do not negotiate with terrorists” multiple times…then try to negotiate. With my toddler. While she’s grabbing my face….not very productive.

For the most part lately I have just been waiting it out and she gets bored when she doesn’t get a rise out of me. I will say she is one smart cookie. She knows exactly what she is doing, and exactly how to push our buttons. I’m not looking forward to her teenage years!

We do have it somewhat easy though because it’s only one of our girls giving us a serious run for our money. Thank God for our Harper. I’m pretty sure she knows Ana has been pushing us a little too far lately because she has been extra sweet to compensate. She adds a sweet “pwetty pwease” and a giant smile to even the simplest request, and gives extra hugs and kisses…especially when I look like I’m about to lose it. Her sister and I both owe her a huge thank you!

As frustrated and mad as I sometimes get, I still can’t get over how amazing it is watching my little babes grow into little girls. Their small personalities have gotten very big and at the end of the day I can’t help but smile while day dreaming about what they will be like, what they will do, and how they forge their way in this world. Something tells me Analiese will be able to hold her own. ;)

So I’m curious moms. Any advice for this stressed out momma bear? How did you handle your threenager?

Xoxo

-Emily