31-32 month developmental changes?

[AliceGeorge]

My 2 1/2 year old has recently become "difficult" and it's really stressing me out. I'm goning to post in the gentle discipline board as well, because he's relaly testing me. I'm just trying to understand where he's coming from, so I can hopefully be more patient. I know he doesn't mean to stress me out, and I'm probably stressing him out. He's not sleeping as well, getting more tired than before, extra clingy, doesn't seem to want my husband as much as he did before, and really just wants me, nurses more (maybe part of the clingy part?)... stuff like that. Anyone know of anything?

Thanks!

[butterfly_mommy]

I don't know but my 31 turning 32 mon old is stressing me out lately as well! Also not sleeping great, just lots of movement, nursing more and the worst not listening to me at all!

Ex. we went to the mall to visit my GM the other morning. We go first thing so it is not busy and I don't mind if DS runs ahead of us a bit as long as he is mindful of others, stops when I ask him too and doesn't go to far ahead. He has incredible language skills and we went over my expectations and decided to use the tile pattern on the floor as a guideline and he was happy with all that. Now I totally get his lack of impulse control so I do not expect that he will be able to not just keep going a bit and usually he is really good at stopping or answering me when I call to him. Anyway he was not able to do any of that the other morning and I had to remind him, run after him, state my expectations to him numerous times and eventually i had to hold his hand and he was not able to go off and explore So frustrating and stressful for both of us.

Anyway today when I picked him up from preschool he said to me "Hi Mama, I missed you" with a huge smile on his face Then as we were walking to the car he said "I love you mama and I missed you"

Hopefully other's have some insight.

[AliceGeorge]

Looks like our guys have the same birthday! Pretty cool! You're in TO? We were there not too long ago.

Ours has been doing the same kinds of things. I'm also 7 months pregnant and on sick leave due to fatigue and varicose veins, and still having trouble dealing with my mother's death a year ago, so I'm not dealing overly well with his behaviour, especially around bedtime. He's the same, though, he'll be a pain in the butt, and then come out with someting totally sweet! They are sweet, and they don't mean to irritate us, but it's easier to deal, when there's something specific to attribute it to.

[Surfacing]

Is this a thread for Ontario residents only? I am in T.O. also.

Dd2 is about 33 mos. and has been DRIVING ME CRAZY with her behaviour lately. With others she is cooperative and sweet, etc. But with me it's NON-STOP WHINING, CRYING, TANTRUMS. Ugh. Today we spent the afternoon with my grandmother. Dd2 was being uncharacteristically clingy and whiny, totally uncooperative, throwing herself down and tantruming. My gma asked, "Do you ever watch Supernanny? You need to talk to her like that and tell her firmly NO!"

I have tried yelling, I have tried talking gently and lovingly. In the Positive Discipline series they talk about the second half of the year being tough for kids and challenging for parents. I try to apply the principles around giving her more independence, choice, encouraging her to do things for herself that she is capable of doing, encouraging cooperation, etc. Sometimes I encourage her to use her words, I model how her whining sounds and how I would LIKE her to speak to me (words and tone). Sometimes I say, "Let's try loving words," and "You can chose to be happy and let this go." Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

It's a tough age, that's all.