My child misbehaves

[melohdy]

I certainly didn't want to put that I have a "naughty child" but that's how I feel some days. And I'm looking for commiseration (not sure if it's a word).

Lilly really seems to enjoy misbehaving. Last night, if there was something that she knew she shouldn't do, she gravitated to it. This includes touching things she shouldn't, hitting/head butting us/ and putting herself in dangerous situations.

We try several discipline tactics and none of them phase her. She's doing these things intentionally so we know that she comprehends and should receive some sort of discipline. We redirect, raise our voices, separate her or ourselves, and we've even swatted her bums (obviously not the chosen method). We put her in a chair for time out and sit with her for a determined amount of time. That upsets her but doesn't discourage her from the naughty behaviour.

Anyone in the same boat? Anyone been in the same boat and come out successfully?

:eek:

[cl8badb]

I feel that theyre just at the stage of testing limits. Just stick to your guns. She will eventually get bored and give up.

[michelin82]

::raises hand::

DS1 is this way...not DS2. When he is "on," he is really well behaved and the sweetest kid ever. But if he is upset about something? Oh dear Lord, you better look out. He will be very disobedient and no type of punishment seems to faze him. I'm in tears way more often than I care to admit.

One thing that has helped us a bit is to make sure we're consistent in following through on our "threats" of punishment. If we tell him he won't get to do "X" if he misbehaves, then we have to stand by that. It took a few times of that actually happening before he realized we were serious about our "threats." Now when he's misbehaving I'll say "Drew, if you [name bad behavior] again, you will not get to [name something he is excited to do]" or something along those lines. 9 times out of 10 that works.

Hang in there. This parenting stuff is hard work!

[bcandlm]

Yes. His favorite word right now is "No!" ;-) We just redirect--ask if he wants to read a book, pick him up and take him somewhere else, etc. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.

[daffy2k]

We've been there. I recently read an article in a magazine that discussed this, essentially saying that even though they seem to understand they won't fully understand the cause and effect (ie. Bad behaviour = discipline) until closer to 3. That's not to say you shouldn't keep doing what you're doing, but just to say don't stress if she doesn't always respond appropriately. I don't think I'll be able to find the article online, since it was in a fairly current issue, but I'll try to screenshot it later today and post it. As I was reading it I was reminded of so many of the recent discussions we've had on here lately.

[coffeebeanfiend]

Yup we have days where DD is naughty. I'm at a loss as to what to do because she's too little to grasp discipline but she knows when she's misbehaving

[megan322]

DD is definitely a limit tester lately. We just try to stay as consistent as possible and do a ton of redirecting. There are days that I want to pull my hair out but I keep telling myself that it will pass. She's sweet most of the time, but her sour moments are pretty rough.

[babygsmommy]

When I read the title, I thought "boy do they?!?!?" Anyway, it's just their age. M has started saying uh oh, before he throws or drops something on purpose. I redirect his misbehaviors, since he's only 19 months. It's just the age of testing boundaries.

[heelibrarian]

Yes, DS was (is!) most assuredly like this. However, DD is not. Maybe because she sees how much trouble he's in all the time? I'll just say redirect, show them the right behavior, and hang in there. It'll get better (and worse!)

[lioness13]

Yup! She says "NO" all the time. I didn't want to hit her but I pop bee on her thigh when she is not listening and purposely does something she shouldn't. I call it a "tap tap". Sometimes when she isn't listening I ask her if she wants a tap tap, she says "yes" then does what o asked her to do. I think she's afeaid to say no. It works for now. I hope to transition to time out soon. She doesn't get that yet.

[anw39]

I feel like after 3:00 pushing my buttons is all G does. She gets "spankings " not hard at all and laughs at me...obviously it's not working. But I'm going crazy. She knows what I'm saying just doesn't care. And it's mostly towards me....can't wait to open my wine tonight