Andrea’s Weblog

Elizabeth has undergone a personality change in the last two weeks. Our terrific two-year-old has suddenly exhibited signs of the terrible twos.

We’ve been using positive parenting with Elizabeth and have so far been pleased with the results. Redirection, offering choices, avoiding saying no (you can kick the floor, but don’t kick the dog) had all been effective until the other day. Several things have happened that leave us scratching our heads wondering who this child is:

Refusing to stop jumping in the booth at a restaurant.
Running around in the post office. (I eventually ended up wrangling her down while holding packages and maintaining my place in line.)
Jumping on our new king-size bed when she knows she’s only allowed to jump on her own bed (right next to it). She’ll say “look at me! I’m jumping on your bed!”
Coming up behind people and trying to hang from their necks. Telling her it hurts people doesn’t have any effect!

It’s clear that she’s testing her boundaries and learning how to express her emotions. The pressure is on for us to respond appropriately or we’ll be faced with a rotten child and out-of-control teenager. Ack!

We’ve been combing the parenting books and have started implementing time outs. Sometimes when she’s extra grumpy we have a 15 minute string of 2 minute time-outs. Reading the Dr. Sears book on discipline has helped us to understand what we can expect from her at this age and reassured us that it is only a phase. (Other parenting books I’ve been reading are: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk and Connection Parenting: Parenting through Connection instead of Coercion, Through Love instead of Fear.)

We’re all hoping it’s a quick phase!