Hello, 

I am glad to have joined this site being that I just balled my eyes out in frustration over my 21/2 yr old's behavior.  I know that there is such a thing as "terrible two's" but I just didn't think it was THIS bad!!  My son talks better and more than most 2 year olds so he is really able to push mine and my husbands buttons like an expert.  He is very well behaved everywhere else BUT our home (which I totally don't understand), and his babysitter during the day says he is extremely well behaved at her house.  I just don't get how when we get home he becomes this testy, backtalking, sometimes it seems almost mean spirited little boy.  I am so upset at the way he was behaving tonight that I had to walk away from the dinner table!  First of all, he locked my husband and I out of the house and laughed when we asked him to open it, then he repeated everything we said with "no, you are not going to", then he refused to eat his dinner meanwhile popping up in our faces saying "no talking!".  I know it sounds like he needs attention, but trust me, he is an only child (and only grandchild) and gets ALOT! I am a school teacher of young children, so I know methods of discipline inside and out- this is one I can't crack!  If anyone has any ideas, comments, or can help, PLEASE do!!!  I am so frustrated!!!

Thanks!

i would start taking away his toys and putting him in the corner if he is old enough to talk back he is old enough to understand he can not walk all over you because once he starts he wont stop

Time-Outs work for us and our 2 1/2 yo.  2 minutes.

Remember - this too shall pass.

Good luck  :)

My Mom says  "this is why God makes toddlers so cute - so we don't strangle them"  HA! 

yes, i would just "go on down the line" of punishment styles that you know and empliment them. one at a time. somethings gotta work right!? what i do personally with my toddler son, is that first i simply tell him no, next i try and redirect him to something else, then, if that hasnt worked, then he gets a light spank on his diaper; it doesnt hurt him, gets his attention and he stops then! of course diferent methods work for different kids. well, i hope i have helped you, good luck!

Jakki,

I have a lovely off the wall three year old.  Who is getting a little too mouthy these days.  A co-worker of mine last year gave me this book and some of the things in the book I have used and have worked. 

Title: Ask Supper Nanny, Author Jo Frost.  Here is the isbn#

1-4013-0864-3.  It's a good read, I flipped thru the pages and used it as time went by and according to the emergency situation at my house. 

Good luck

I have a 2 year old myself, and we are starting to see more and more tantrums lately. One thing that I heard recently that makes me a feel a little better is that the reason kids act like that with their parents is because they are the most comfortable being themselves around them. Maybe that will give a little bit of positive to the situation. Good luck! :)

The terrible 2's may just be a terrible Atlas. What's the Atlas? It's the first bone in the spine and if it's out of place it can cause an array of different problems; ranging from bad behavior, ADHD, learning problems, irritability, chronic infections, trouble sleeping and many more. Your child may not know how to express what his body is feeling and he acts out. Find an upper cervical doctor in your area and have his Atlas alignment checked. It is a painless exam and correction if necessary. It is much easier, safer and less invasive than medicating for behavior problems which is becoming more prevalent these days. For more information you can go to www.topdocfl.com or google upper cervical chiropractic and Atlas Orthogonal chiropractic. It is a little known procedure that helps hundreds of different conditions. It doesn't give anything or take anything away from a person, it simply makes a specific correction to allow the nervous system and body to work properly and stay healthy.