post #1 of 1
1/3/11 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 

Hi mamas, I'm seeking advice.  DD turned 2 in Nov and she is very high energy, quick, strong, and active.  I feel a ridiculous saying this, but I'm beginning to feel a bit beat up. 

 

Some examples, she likes to touch/pull at my hair, grab fistfuls of my skin, run and fling books instead of handing them, and just today she was calmly nursing and we were resting together when out of the blue she flailed her arm so hard that she slapped me!  It literally made me cry it hurt and startled me so much.  Reading this over I feel like I'm making her out to be quite the hellion, but I can tell that these actions aren't malicious-  I think she is just so active, impulsive, and strong that she doesn't know her own strength and it happens.  Also, it seems to mostly happen with me and DH- She is not as rough with friends, grandparents, etc (Maybe because they are not trying to hold her, dress her, put her in her carseat, etc. - they are not in as close of range!)

 

Anyway, my strategy with this has been to avoid and redirect whenever possible, tell her positive comments ("Use gentle hands" "Calm your body for nursing" etc), and to model gentle ways (ie  "This is how you can touch mamas face" and helping her guide her hands and do it).  Lately I have also been telling her how something makes me feel (ie "that hurt mama").  If she is too rough while nursing we stop for awhile.  We are also sure to have lots of active outdoor time and healthy outlets for energy.  But... I feel like a broken record and feel like we aren't making much progress!  I also don;t know exactly how to react right after she hurts me.  (I usually take a few deep breaths then honestly tell her that hurt and start in on my "gentle" broken record.)

 

We have a new LO due in March and I'd really like to help DD1 find more gentleness both for my sake and the new baby's.  Help!  Any ideas?

 

Thanks!

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