Hubby the Great and I have a delightful but oh so strong-willed toddler on our hands. We realize that we need to be firm but fair with him and establish that he can’t always get his own way because we are just a few temper tantrums away from strong-willed turning into bratty.
When our resilience starts to falter, we remind ourselves that this won’t last forever. The “Terrible Twos” are fast approaching but once we get past that, things should start to get easier, right? We’ve been comforted in the thought that The Wee Man was really no more of a challenge than most other toddlers his age. Well, today may be the day to stop kidding ourselves.
We just got home from his 18-month check-up with his pediatrician. The Wee Man did his usual thing of not wanting to sit still and swatted away the doctor’s stethoscope when she went to listen to his breathing. I told her that he is very determined and wants to assert his independence ALL THE TIME.
When the check-up was over and I went to dress him, he threw himself back (a hallmark move) and wouldn’t let me put his clothes on. The howls of displeasure could be heard in the parking lot.
“He certainly has a big personality,” his doctor said.
You don’t say.
Then she said that she had a recommended reading list. I wish I could say with absolute certainty that she gives out this list to every parent of an 18-month old toddler but the time it took her to locate it in her office told me otherwise.
So, here, my friends are the names of the books she suggested (keeping in mind that no recommendations were sought. I’m not sayin’ they aren’t needed – they just weren’t sought…)
- No More Misbehavin’: 38 Difficult Behaviors and How to Stop Them
- Kids are Worth It!: Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline
- How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too!
- The Difficult Child
- Your Defiant Child: 8 Steps To Better Behavior
Alrighty then.
So the bottom line of today’s appointment was, The Wee Man is happy and healthy but can display jerk-like tendencies.
1 comment:
I was just thinking about this post the other day and wondering to myself where I'd read it... because I NEED some of these books (the library is my friend... I don't like paying for parenting books - too often I disagree with them). Lol... so glad you commented, bringing me to you & your doc's great list of books to help with "spirited" little ones.
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