Jacob has been testing my sanity the last few days. We have an entertainment center and the movies on the shelves are within his reach and he simply can't leave them alone. He is 18 months and capable of knowing yes and no and I want to have things in my house that he knows not to touch (otherwise everything stays in boxes). I have said "no" probably 25 separate times in two days (sitting at his level in front of the movies) and it simply does NOT work, a mean glare does nothing, a sharp "pat" on the hand is useless, I've tried a 10 second time-out which was useless, I've even spanked his diapered bottom... still nothing. No punishment or consequence works. He thinks it is funny or something and grabs them at least 20 times a day (no joke) and looks in my direction. Then he laughs and runs.
I am going absolutely nuts and have no idea what to do. I've searched the internet for ideas and have found nothing I haven't tried. If he simply played with the movies or made a mess I wouldn't care, but he's ripping the covers and damaging them - not acceptable. I've asked my older sister and the only thing she had to say was, "sounds like Michael" (her oldest child). I left the house after he woke up from his nap yesterday and went anywhere and everywhere for 3 hours JUST to avoid the movie battle. I HATE feeling like a mean mom or a bad mom, and maybe some of the problem is that I am simply exhausted from being 32 weeks pregnant and my hormones are raging, and I have no patience but I feel like I am going to need Brent to admit me to a nut house if I don't find some sort of solution.
Can anybody offer me some help? suggestions? a light at the end of this particular tunnel?
2 comments:
Oh sweetie I am so sorry. I am not sure if this makes you feel better but you so not alone in this. I have been feeling like that for a long time and kept thinking I am going to end up in the nut-house anyday. But knowing that I am not alone in this (except those mothers who have 'perfect' children who are probably not normal) and we are all on the same boat.
I have come to the conclusion that these kind of behaviour means that our children are absolutely normal. I have asked and pleaded with my children's doctors and they all have said that they are normal and are alway testing the boundries. Some of the tips were that be consistent and the DVD's are always "NO". Collin's Dr. told me not to use the word "No" a lot because then it won't mean as much. Discourage the bad-behaviour and encourage the good one. Yeh, easier said that done.
Jacob is only 1.5 years old and it is kind of early for him to know consequences although he knows 'yes' and 'No'. At that age what worked for me most of the time was to distract and make something else sound so much more fun. It usually works.
Good Luck hon.
My son is the King of getting into things and child proofing really never worked. I hear ya about the movies! Ethan was totally into getting into them in our entertainment center, but luckily we had glass doors on it and I just got some painters tape and taped it shut. Once he learned that he couldn't get in it, he stopped trying. Then we took off the tape and he didn't bother them anymore. I think if you don't want him to hurt certain things then just put them away until he can handle being told no. There is a huge difference between disicplining an 18 month old and a 2 year old and then even more as they get older. Ethan has been such a curious child and he really needed boundries set up for him, but some things were just not worth tempting him and trying my patience. Good luck!
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