3 y.o driving me CRAZY!!

[Enudely]

We have a one month old baby in the house, so it's stressful around here. 3 y.o dd has been driving me NUTS! We've been stuck in the house with a fever for a week, are just starting to get better....
Today she has already thrown two bowls of food all over the floor in a fit of anger. I am not handling it well! I feel like I want to pick her up and throw HER across the room! AAUUUUGH!
I used a time out for the first time today. She has GOT to stop throwing things all over the house! help!

[mamassong]

My 3 y.o. DD is driving me CRAZY too. I'll be reading for advice too. Are these 'fits of anger' normal??

[Funny Face]

I want to give you both BIG s!

I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old and this has NOT been an easy transition. Dd's behavior has not changed much but my reaction it has. No sleep, no time to sit, no time to shower, or eat, or drink, or surf the net REALLY put me on edge.

I put her in time out like, 5 times one day. Of course she started crying hysterically ('What the hell is wrong with my mom!') and then I started crying. When I called her to come to me from time out I burst into tears and told her how sorry I was that I'd been so impatient and had yelled. She burst into tears and said "Mommy don't do that!" It nearly broke my heart. Then when we calmed down she said "Don't worry. It was an accident. We won't do it ever again. I'm sorry."

Part if it might be that she is going through the transition too and needs some attention, and part of it might be that you are seriously overworked and over tired.

When I got to the point that I wanted to lock both kids out of the house I knew I had to do something. I'm a neat freak but I said "Screw the house this week." and made dd and ds and myself the only priority to see if things improved... and they did and the house got cleaned eventually.

Do you think she might be acting out because she wants your attention?



This parenting stuff is tough!

[Ornery]

My just turned 3 yo ds can be really tough at times as well. We don't use time outs persay, just time ins, where I hold him until he can stop hitting or hurting or interfering with his 5 yo sister or 13 yo brother. We try to live with gentle discipline in most ways but I can understand how hard it is, especially with a young newborn!

[Enudely]

she and I are both really tired... it sucks! It's SO hard to keep my cool when I'm so exhausted and barely have time to eat.
ugh

[maryeb]

I'm here too. There is a thread in childhood forum, as support for those of us with 3yr. olds...it's helpful. also the book Your 3yr Old, Friend or Enemy? is helpful in describing seemingly universal behaviors. Nak, good luck mama.