How to stop the screaming so I can be heard!

[pranava]

DS 21 months has taken to screaming at the top of his lungs the very second I do not comply with his wishes.  I can't distract him, redirect him, or give him options (would you like to sit in your chair for dinner of on my lap?) because he can't hear me over his screaming.  I don't want him to think I'm ignoring him or not understanding him, but I let him sit wherever he is and scream because he pays no attention to anything I do unless it's the one thing he wants me to do. 

Example - DS grabs my hand and says "There's balls in my bed!  Come on Mom, I'll show you!"  and tries to drag me to his bedroom.  I say " I know!  I saw all those cool balls you put in your bed just a minute ago.  But right now it's dinner time and we . . ." "WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  And the screaming begins and continues until I end up putting him in the bathtub to calm him down and eating my dinner cold while sitting on the toilet."

How do I get a word in?  It's his way or the highway these days!!

[crunchy_mommy]

 We do 'deep breath' with DS, which many times will calm him down enough to give him the options, or other things that tend to calm him -- pushing his hands against mine, flipping him upside down, doing something silly, though usually more physical things work better for DS. Sometimes I pull out the 'book' card -- he loves books and will drop almost anything to be read to, but if your DS isn't into books pick whatever is his favorite activity. Takes me less time overall if I'm willing to stop for a few minutes to read him a book... And also sometimes I give in, like in your case I'd probably just go see his bed again since it's not really worth it to make it into a big issue. If none of those things work, we just talk over his screaming. He can hear us even though we can't hear ourselves lol & we can try to rationalize/explain to him with some success.

[lifeguard]

When ds gets like that I just walk away or give him a few minutes. He usually quickly realizes & settles enough that I can come back & talk to him or give him a hug.

[Aufilia]

Subscribing! My DS is only 14 months but lately he has done the same thing, screaming so loud when upset that I can't calm him down because he can't hear me.