[Jennifer Z]

Has anybody noticed that they go through cycles here? We go through times when we are about to pull out our hair because *nothing* is working, then we get a few months (or weeks) reprive where we start feeling more confident because everything is going fairly well. During the stressful times we are mostly posting questions, and the confident times we are mostly posting answers.

OK, so, let's be realistic. I don't think I have actually had 6 months of smooth sailing, but I keep hearing that at the 6 month marks, kids tend to hit the wall where they are pushing every button, only to bounce the other direction in the following 6 months. I think I get the 6 month - 6 hours - 6 months.

: :LOL

 

[Dragonfly]

I don't know if it's 6 months here, but we always start to fall apart right around birthdays. It takes a few months to recover - maybe 6 months after all, as he's just over 4.5 and we've just recently come out of it. :LOL Anyway, it hapens, we recover, and then it happens again.

Parenthood, eh?

 

[harmonymama]

Becky Bailey talks about how 18-month-olds become really trying, then its smooth sailing around 2, only to hit another major hurdle around 2 1/2. Then at three, they take life with a smile, only to go through a really oppositional stage around 3 1/2. Then things start getting better around 4 again. Well, that rings so true for us. I think we're just starting to come out of the 3 1/2 year old oppositional stage at this point. It seems to help tremendously when I really encourage even push a little for my son to do things by himself, like getting dressed, pouring his own water, etc.

 

[annab]

Our preschool actually gives a chart to parents showing this pattern of disequilibrium/equilibrium. I will say that my son has not been doing it at the same times as the chart, but for the same lenght of time. It seems like the day he turned three, my sweet little boy was replaced with an oppositional, bull-headed, contrary little alien. We are just hanging on until it is over.

 

[moonshine]

Oh, god, maybe that's it. I was just thinking that I am not really into DDs behavior of late. Yes, around 3 she was amazing. She will soon be 3.5 and man, it has been hairly lately. I really have 6 more months of this??? Help me now.

 

[Piglet68]

I think it was out of the Gesell Institute of Child Development (or something like that) that the books "Your 1 Year Old", and "Your 2 Year Old" etc. came out. I got one from the library once and that is what they said - the 6 month cycle of equilibrium/disequilibrium. I have to say it has held true for us. 2 was a great time. 2.5 had it's challenges. These days things are sailing pretty smoothly and she's just about 3.

 

[MamaMonica]

Things were Ok here at 3- but going on 3 1/2 is really intense. My first was nothing like this at this age. Every kid is so different but I agree that they all have cycles.