DS is 16 months old. He doesn't talk yet. He's at a Montessori daycare from 7 - 3 every day. It's a long day, but we still have 5 hours together in the evening before bed so I still feel like a pretty hands-on mom, KWIM? He's always been a pretty independent kid- not one of those kids who needs to be entertained every minute.
The past few days he has been SOOOOOO clingy when we get home from "school" in the afternoon. He always gets a bottle of milk right when we get home and we cuddle and rock for awhile while he drinks. But he does NOT want to be set down when we're done. When I do set him down he either clings to my legs or collapses on the ground in a heap as though his world is ending and wails. It's really quite pathetic-looking.
Lately he's also started kind of "fake" crying when something doesn't go his way. For example, today he got a hold of the phone and started dialing who knows where. So I took the phone away real gently... stuff like this doesn't bother me.... and said "That's mama's phone- here's a toy for Colin" and I redirected him to something else. Well, he threw himself onto the ground, arched his back and wailed as though I had just run over his puppy with the car or something.
He was "crying," but there was no real sadness behind it, you know? Its like he was crying while watching me out of the corner of his eye to see my reaction.
So I said "You are so mad because mama took away the phone!" And he reached up to be held and just cried and cried and didn't want to be put down.
I am trying to be good and patient, but I am SOOOO BUSY this week and I just DO NOT HAVE THE TIME to sit and cuddle / play / entertain DS every night all night long. Any other week would not be a problem, but this week.... ergh!!!
Plus, I feel like DS is starting a new behavior of some kind and I'm not sure I like it. But I don't have a good handle on exactly what I want him to stop. I just have a sinking feeling that something is going on that I need to "nip in the bud."
It feels kind of like he's learning that throwing a tantrum is getting his way... but he's not really tantruming. Or maybe he is!
I don't know. It just feels like he's turned a corner and instead of simply reacting to everything around him, now he's gained some control over his reactions and choosing his reactions more. And I'm not crazy about what he's choosing.
I want my happy, independent, easygoing boy back. Sorry if I'm babbling. Any insights?
The past few days he has been SOOOOOO clingy when we get home from "school" in the afternoon. He always gets a bottle of milk right when we get home and we cuddle and rock for awhile while he drinks. But he does NOT want to be set down when we're done. When I do set him down he either clings to my legs or collapses on the ground in a heap as though his world is ending and wails. It's really quite pathetic-looking.
Lately he's also started kind of "fake" crying when something doesn't go his way. For example, today he got a hold of the phone and started dialing who knows where. So I took the phone away real gently... stuff like this doesn't bother me.... and said "That's mama's phone- here's a toy for Colin" and I redirected him to something else. Well, he threw himself onto the ground, arched his back and wailed as though I had just run over his puppy with the car or something.
He was "crying," but there was no real sadness behind it, you know? Its like he was crying while watching me out of the corner of his eye to see my reaction.
So I said "You are so mad because mama took away the phone!" And he reached up to be held and just cried and cried and didn't want to be put down.
I am trying to be good and patient, but I am SOOOO BUSY this week and I just DO NOT HAVE THE TIME to sit and cuddle / play / entertain DS every night all night long. Any other week would not be a problem, but this week.... ergh!!!
Plus, I feel like DS is starting a new behavior of some kind and I'm not sure I like it. But I don't have a good handle on exactly what I want him to stop. I just have a sinking feeling that something is going on that I need to "nip in the bud."
It feels kind of like he's learning that throwing a tantrum is getting his way... but he's not really tantruming. Or maybe he is!
I don't know. It just feels like he's turned a corner and instead of simply reacting to everything around him, now he's gained some control over his reactions and choosing his reactions more. And I'm not crazy about what he's choosing.
I want my happy, independent, easygoing boy back. Sorry if I'm babbling. Any insights?
