Comments on: Positive Discipline and the Terrible Twos http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2008/08/11/positive-discipline-and-the-terrible-twos/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:57:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Green Mamma http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2008/08/11/positive-discipline-and-the-terrible-twos/#comment-652 Green Mamma Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:23:22 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=574#comment-652 Nerida, thank you for the encouragement! I try to remind myself that these are perhaps the most precious days of my life (being with my almost 2 year old, even on her most terrible tantrum days). One way that I am helping my daughter (and myself) cope with her tantrums is to get her to laugh. I acknowledge her feelings and want her to know it is okay to express all kinds of emotions. At the same time, I want her to be able to move forward from a difficult feeling and have fun with herself. Sometimes all I have to do is smile and she'll start laughing at the whole situation. Nerida, thank you for the encouragement! I try to remind myself that these are perhaps the most precious days of my life (being with my almost 2 year old, even on her most terrible tantrum days).

One way that I am helping my daughter (and myself) cope with her tantrums is to get her to laugh. I acknowledge her feelings and want her to know it is okay to express all kinds of emotions. At the same time, I want her to be able to move forward from a difficult feeling and have fun with herself. Sometimes all I have to do is smile and she’ll start laughing at the whole situation.

]]> By: Nerida http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2008/08/11/positive-discipline-and-the-terrible-twos/#comment-650 Nerida Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:27:21 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=574#comment-650 Don't be overwhelmed by the fear of the 'terrible twos'. Yes, the tantrums are there, but this is such a beautiful and exciting time for your and your child. I can say in all honesty that I miss my two year old (I love her as my five year old unreservedly, too!. Your child is moving into a stage where her body can't keep up with her mind. There is so much to see and do. Often her need to do something will be let down by her inability to do it. If you find she has tantrums to get her own way, make sure she is safe and then walk away. Either go to another room or a few feet away and get busy doing something else. There's little benefit to her to put on a prize winning performance if no one is watching. Be patient, be kind and loving. Enjoy sharing in her marvel at the world around her. Don’t be overwhelmed by the fear of the ‘terrible twos’. Yes, the tantrums are there, but this is such a beautiful and exciting time for your and your child. I can say in all honesty that I miss my two year old (I love her as my five year old unreservedly, too!.

Your child is moving into a stage where her body can’t keep up with her mind. There is so much to see and do. Often her need to do something will be let down by her inability to do it.

If you find she has tantrums to get her own way, make sure she is safe and then walk away. Either go to another room or a few feet away and get busy doing something else.

There’s little benefit to her to put on a prize winning performance if no one is watching.

Be patient, be kind and loving. Enjoy sharing in her marvel at the world around her.

]]> By: Green Mamma http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2008/08/11/positive-discipline-and-the-terrible-twos/#comment-648 Green Mamma Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:19:18 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=574#comment-648 Doesn't it feel wonderful when someone else (a friend usually) understands how you feel and what you are going through? I notice that I tend to be more polite with respecting my friends' feelings, and it is my hope that by focusing on positive discipline I can make a greater effort to be polite and encouraging to my husband and daughter when they are experiencing difficult emotions. And Prasanna, I know you will do just find with the second round of the twos. Hang in there! Doesn’t it feel wonderful when someone else (a friend usually) understands how you feel and what you are going through? I notice that I tend to be more polite with respecting my friends’ feelings, and it is my hope that by focusing on positive discipline I can make a greater effort to be polite and encouraging to my husband and daughter when they are experiencing difficult emotions.

And Prasanna, I know you will do just find with the second round of the twos. Hang in there!

]]> By: Prasanna http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2008/08/11/positive-discipline-and-the-terrible-twos/#comment-639 Prasanna Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:26:05 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=574#comment-639 I could relate very well with this article. I like the advice about acknowledging the child's emotions. Even I feel placated when my emotions are recognized and respected! I know the terrible twos are indeed terrible. I have been through it once, and glad to say now that it is over, I can barely remember them. Now to brace myself for the 2nd onslaught! I could relate very well with this article. I like the advice about acknowledging the child’s emotions. Even I feel placated when my emotions are recognized and respected!

I know the terrible twos are indeed terrible. I have been through it once, and glad to say now that it is over, I can barely remember them. Now to brace myself for the 2nd onslaught!

]]> By: Green Mamma http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2008/08/11/positive-discipline-and-the-terrible-twos/#comment-633 Green Mamma Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:39:39 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=574#comment-633 I agree that "the happiest, best fed, well rested child" will "do things that are not appropriate for that situation," which is why as much as I love Faber's philosophy that when a kid feels right, he/she acts right, it is challenging and somewhat upsetting when I feel like I am making my best efforts and my daughter is behaving as though she were the unhappiest kid on the block. While there may be no cure all for tantrums, I hope that through the ups and downs, tantrums and all, I manage to make it through these moments/days/months/years and still have a trusting and loving relationship with Annabelle. On a side note, it didn't occur to me that my parents were flaws human beings until I was halfway through college. I'm not sure what that will mean for my own relationships with my children, but just seeing that thought in print is a bit depressing. I really hope my children trust me and someday will "like" me. I agree that “the happiest, best fed, well rested child” will “do things that are not appropriate for that situation,” which is why as much as I love Faber’s philosophy that when a kid feels right, he/she acts right, it is challenging and somewhat upsetting when I feel like I am making my best efforts and my daughter is behaving as though she were the unhappiest kid on the block.

While there may be no cure all for tantrums, I hope that through the ups and downs, tantrums and all, I manage to make it through these moments/days/months/years and still have a trusting and loving relationship with Annabelle.

On a side note, it didn’t occur to me that my parents were flaws human beings until I was halfway through college. I’m not sure what that will mean for my own relationships with my children, but just seeing that thought in print is a bit depressing. I really hope my children trust me and someday will “like” me.

]]> By: Melody http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2008/08/11/positive-discipline-and-the-terrible-twos/#comment-627 Melody Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:49:29 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=574#comment-627 I'm all ears for suggestions. I find myself losing patience with my toddler quite often, and it's easier to stay home and let the melt downs occur in private than in public (or any place that has baby dolls that we can't take with us). Even the happiest, best fed, well rested child will want to have things or do things that are not appropriate for that situation (at least in our case), so I'd take a gander to say there is no cure for all of the tantrums. I’m all ears for suggestions. I find myself losing patience with my toddler quite often, and it’s easier to stay home and let the melt downs occur in private than in public (or any place that has baby dolls that we can’t take with us).
Even the happiest, best fed, well rested child will want to have things or do things that are not appropriate for that situation (at least in our case), so I’d take a gander to say there is no cure for all of the tantrums.

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