Sanity Check Please

[Violet2]

I hooked DD up with some awesome tub crayons yesterday and a bubble bath. Something she loves to do.

But she got all controlling about when the water should be turned on etc... and ended up in a huge tantrum when I didn't obey that she actually ended up being removed from the bath (primarily for turning on the water herself which is a safety issue).

I don't get it. WHO tantrums over a bubble bath and unlimited tub crayons???? I would love to do that myself, personally but my mommy is living in another country and stopped giving me baths about 30+ years ago.

Please interpret this tantrum. Because I have no idea what I did wrong. But clearly I am the world's worst mother.

Is this a 2 thing?
V

[AFWife]

DS is 14 months. Yesterday he threw a HUGE fit because I wouldn't let him climb into the dishwasher...

I think it's an age thing. They want it THEIR WAY and have trouble dealing with the frustration that comes with not getting it...

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

My 19 month old wil crack his head on the floor if I dont allow him to crawl inside THE STOVE.

Its most definetly a 2 thing.

[swd12422]

Yep. We have very few "fun/special" things here, b/c they cause way too much excitement which ends in tantrums. We're boring, but it's quieter...

[crunchy_mommy]

Too many crayons maybe??? Just a guess, maybe she felt out of control because it wasn't like her 'normal' baths so she was trying to control it the only way she could think of?

[AFWife]

Right now he's throwing a fit because I won't let him bang on the monitor.

[laughymama]

My son does this. It's a 2 thing. HAS to be.

He throws tantrums because we won't let him play in the dirty dishes in the sink. He doesn't want anything to do with all of the clean dishes we give him in unlimited amounts to play with. He wants the dirty dishes.

He also threw a tantrum because he wasn't allowed to throw his shoes at the fish tank. When I told him that he couldn't and took the shoes away, he had a meltdown. You would have thought I told him that he can never play with any toys ever again.

We don't do many "special" things or "out of the ordinary" things here. He doesn't understand yet that they are only occasional things and even when he does understand, he doesn't have the capacity yet to express how upset that makes him other than to hit/throw things/push. Then of course he gets talked to about how we need to be gentle and it all ends in a huge meltdown because that's all he has left to do.

I hear it gets better...when they're 4.

[Violet2]

Ah okay. The lightbulb goes on. Daddy has been out of town since last Friday. I'm sure that has a lot to do with it too.

Poor DD.

V

[funnygrace]

Same exact faucet control issue with the bathroom sink and water play time yesterday. I let him turn it on full blast for a while, tried to show him the beauty of a more gentle dribble. But he was keen on the big blast and I decided not to let it go on. He threw a fit, real tears and lower lip quiver. I wonder if I should have let him tire of it on his own. Not sure... But, it's a new day.

[Violet2]

I don't want her thinking she can run her own bath because I worry she'll get herself into trouble. So it is a big no-no for us.

V

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by funnygrace

Same exact faucet control issue with the bathroom sink and water play time yesterday. I let him turn it on full blast for a while, tried to show him the beauty of a more gentle dribble. But he was keen on the big blast and I decided not to let it go on. He threw a fit, real tears and lower lip quiver. I wonder if I should have let him tire of it on his own. Not sure... But, it's a new day.

Tried that. Its a slippery slope and has blown up in my face more the once. Just an FYI.

[sarah1122]

My usually calm 20 month old totally lost it last week when he couldn't sit in a jeep. The jeep in question was a cartoon drawing in a book.

[Baby_Cakes]

My DD is 20 mo and loses it over EVERYTHING lately.

She just started saying "no" herself, so now if I offer her something and she doesn't want it, she does this little head to the side, eyes closed, OMG, how dare you ask me that, "Noooo!" and immediately bursts into sobs and crumbles to the floor in a dramatic diva like manner.
I have no idea where my easy going happy girl has gone and it's leaving me speechless most of the time.

I also think it's crazy that most of the stuff she used to happily do is now met with a no. She doesn't like any of her sippy cups, she never wants any of the meals/food I offer her. She won't sit in her booster seat. I almost wonder if because she *can* say no, she says no.

OP - about the bath crayons...I feel like DD would have done the same thing. Freaked out over it b/c if they're her crayons and her bath and her water she should be able to do whatever she wants to do and if not -- WAHHHH! NOFAIRNOFAIRNOFAIR!

This age is totally...confusing.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes

I also think it's crazy that most of the stuff she used to happily do is now met with a no. She doesn't like any of her sippy cups, she never wants any of the meals/food I offer her. She won't sit in her booster seat. I almost wonder if because she *can* say no, she says no.

No kidding, just a few days ago I was on here saying how much DS loved to brush his teeth & giving advice to other mamas on it and now he's been refusing to brush his teeth for 2 days straight now. Shakes his head and stamps his feet and screams...

[gagin37]

we have these sorts of meltdowns a lot too. It's definitely an independence thing with ds, he wants to do things himself, or baring that, for me to do it his way. I accommodate him when I can, but sometimes you just have to draw the line. I have also found that new freedoms or special privileges are asking for trouble.

[MusicianDad]

Toddlers are fun aren't they!

I repeat that numerous times a day because DS will have tantrums over the weirdest things. Heaven forbid you tell him it is not physically possible to do something, or not safe, or just plain unsanitary, or it does need to be done.

This morning he asked for a snack and threw a fit because I told him I had to make it first. "No make it! I want it!"

[gagin37]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

This morning he asked for a snack and threw a fit because I told him I had to make it first. "No make it! I want it!"

I'm glad my son isn't the only one that does that! He never wants to wait for me to actually put the hummus on his rice cake. So I give it to him naked, and two minutes later he brings it back hollering for hummus.

[Aubergine68]

My favorite toddler tantrum for this week was the 19 mo twins that I care for in my home daycare lying on the floor under a hanging plant, wailing because they thought the plant was in a swing and they wanted to go in it.

[swd12422]

Originally Posted by Aubergine68

My favorite toddler tantrum for this week was the 19 mo twins that I care for in my home daycare lying on the floor under a hanging plant, wailing because they thought the plant was in a swing and they wanted to go in it.

Awwww....!

[dziwozony]

Great to hear these toddler tantrum triggers!