With a curl in the middle of her forehead
When she was good,
She was very, very good
But when she was bad,
She was horrid.
Elizabeth has hit full-on terrible twos, and she is killing me. She has started throwing tantrums that rival any screaming fit Ella ever pitched. Yesterday she got so worked up - she didn't want to be held, she didn't want to be put down, she didn't want to be on the sofa, she didn't want to be on the floor - that I ended up putting her in her crib, figuring she needed some time in a cool, dark room to settle her down. As I walked to the door, I looked back just in time to see her tumble head first over the rail of her crib. Fortunately, she landed on her back instead of her head. And I think she scared herself enough that she won't try it again. But I've still ordered a crib tent to prevent and further tumbles.
Elizabeth has also taken to hitting, pulling hair, and biting. Campbell is the usual target of her attacks, and bless his heart, he usually doesn't do anything other than scream. Sunday he came out of his room sobbing and showed me his hand. There was a very clear set of Elizabeth-sized teeth prints on his wrist.
We've been putting Elizabeth in time out whenever she hits or bites or pulls, but I'm not sure it's working. Last week she got mad at Campbell, and I caught her with hand raised, poised to hit him. I told her that if she hit her brother, she'd have to sit in time out. She looked at me, cocked her eyebrow, and slapped Campbell on the face. And then she walked over to her time out spot and sat down. I'm not sure what our next step is.
Fortunately, the little hellion does have her good times. When she's not pitching fits or pummeling her brother, she's a sweet, funny little girl who knows just how cute she is. She's adding words by the day - Monday's was "eye beam!" which means ice cream. She loves tagging along after Campbell and her big sisters and copying everything they do. And she willingly gives us big hugs and kisses.
She makes me laugh more often than she makes me want to tear my hair out - but just barely.
8 comments:
Well just look at it this way. She'll grow up to be a very strong woman. And we need more of those.
In the meantime, can I suggest WINE!?!
I can tell you EXACTLY where she learned to cock her eyebrow like that--and it wasn't from one of her sibings! :)
Make that "siblings."
Too funny, PLG!
Knowing the consequences and doing anyway, that's a smart little girl - defiant, yes - but smart.
I'm sorry for your troubles. It will pass and you know that, too but it doesn't make it easier.
This stage WILL pass and one day you will look back on these days and you might even smile - if enough time has passed. My son never really went through the terrible 2s. He's the quiet, sensitive artistic-minded one. My daughter was hell on wheels from about 2 to 4. She's the talkative, outgoing engineering-minded one. And wine definitely helps. And time-outs. Not for the kids, but for the parents.
OH, it brings me back. My youngest (boy) did exactly the same crib thing - I closed the door and not 10 seconds later heard a "thud" and he was flat on the floor.
If the time out thing isn't working, see what does motivate her. If there is a privilege or a toy that can be witheld, or an action that must be done as a consequence, that may help. I don't suggest or condone coporal punishment, but not every kid responds to time outs!
Two more weeks, two more weeks...
Ah the terrible twos, usurped only by the silly seven's. Although biting is a nasty habit. Time out certainly worked for my tots but it takes a whole lot of intestinal fortitude and patience. Good luck with that!
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