Toddler Thursday: Welcome to the Terrible 2s
Hi, folks, it's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday.
First of all, I want to say welcome to the new Charm City Moms blog hostess, Hanah Cho!
So this past weekend, my little guy turned 2. I know, I know, everyone talks about the Terrible 2s, but I didn't think it would be this ... distinct. It feels like a switch got flipped, and where before, Isaac was pleased that he was starting to be able to communicate his needs to us, now when we can't understand what's going on, he goes from 0 to 100 in mere seconds. Thirty-three seconds, to be exact.
Take the above photo. We were shooting portraits on his birthday, and he was having a good time, though he really would have rather been playing. Then, out of nowhere, he lost it. I checked the time stamp on the photos, and there were only 33 seconds between the left shot and the right one. And another 90 seconds later, he was content again. What happened? No clue.
One of my friends whose daughter is almost 2 says lately she's felt as if she's walking on eggshells. She never knows what little thing is going to set off a tantrum. She's hardly the only one.
Tonight, after my husband informed Isaac that he couldn't have a cereal bar because 1) it was dinner time and 2) we were out of bars anyway, he became unglued and cried nonstop for more than 30 minutes. The only word he could manage to get out was, "NOOOOOO!" in response to everything.
Another friend from moms' group reported that her son has suddenly become more prone to tantrums as well.
We're all hoping this is temporary. Kiddo's been through a lot the past few weeks, with the new classroom, the transition to the bed, visits from family, and we think those pesky 2-year molars are making another attempt at breaking through. Not to mention, his little brain must just be spinning with all the new words and concepts he's absorbing.
Life changes, sensory overload, communication difficulties, possible teething pain? Heck, I'd be crying, too.
I'm curious how others have managed this stage. What got you through the so-called terrible 2s?
(Photos by me)
Comments
Thank you so much for this. I thought I was alone. Well I knew I wasn't, but it's just nice to read about someone going through exactly what we are. I have a 9yo too and I just don't remember it like this the first time around. Obviously I have blocked it from my memory.
Posted by: Christina | June 24, 2010 10:42 AM
How worried should I be that my 17 month old is exhibiting this exact behavior now?
Posted by: Claudia | June 24, 2010 10:58 AM
My guy has 3 months to go before he turns 2, but he's already starting in with some major toddler histrionics. Some days it seems like everything is a melodrama--- having to put on a shirt, for example. At the beach last weekend, my husband went into the ocean to swim and Edwin collapsed into my shoulder sobbing, "Dada! Dada! Dada!" the whole time, like Dada had gone off to war. These toddlers give dramatic teenage girls a run for their money.
Posted by: Betsy | June 24, 2010 11:01 AM
Melodrama, yes! That's it exactly.
I was telling his teacher when I dropped him off this morning about his meltdown last night, and she said, "Oh, yes, he's always so dramatic." When I left, he went from smiling at me to dissolving into tears in seconds (maybe 33, but I think less).
There is a lot good to be said about this time, too, but it's just so confusing to figure out what sets him off.
Posted by: SarahKK | June 24, 2010 11:36 AM
2 was a piece of cake compared to three. My daughter is a much easier 3 year old than her brother was, but with both kids, 3 was definitely harder.
With any age, I'd recommend reading books on development. The library has tons. It helps to know what to expect and that the behavior being exhibited is 100% normal. And just to illustrate, the 3 year old book is called "Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy?"
Posted by: Kayris | June 24, 2010 11:50 AM
SKK, talk about a photo (or in this case a pair of them) being worth a thousand words. I was reminded of the time we needed passport photos. Our younger son was 2 or 3 and insisted that his best friend Big Bear be in the photo. He had a big teary meltdown when we said Bear could not be in this photo. Finally the photographer took two sets of photos: one with the bear and one without. Our son studied the photos after he composed himself and said "It's a good picture of Bear."
SKK: Awww, that's sweet! At least after the fact.
Posted by: Dahlink | June 25, 2010 4:55 PM