• Terms And Conditions
  • Disclosure
  • Work with me!
  • Privacy Policy
Find Your Mom Tribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Parenting
  • Pregnancy
  • Wellness
  • Recipes
  • Blogging
  • E-book
Browsing Tag:

attachment parenting

Parenting

From Terrible Twos to Terrific Twos (in one afternoon!)

July 9, 2018

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Please see our full disclosure for more info.

I’ll be honest. I don’t love the term “terrible twos.” I mean, no kid is inherently terrible. And I would never want my kids to hear me using that phrase.
But they do call it “terrible twos” for a reason. Two-year-olds are very, very opinionated. And their opinions change in the blink of an eye.
(Especially when they ask for food, am I right?!)
“I want toast!”
Okay, here’s some toast.
“NOOO!!! I don’t want toast!! Yucky!”
And on and on it goes.
I’m all about peaceful parenting. Gentle, positive parenting is my thing. But, boy it is difficult at this age.
Two-year-olds also have little patience. When they want something, they want it NOW. Instantly. And if they don’t get it instantly? Tantrum.
The thing is, this thing people call the “terrible twos” is all developmentally normal.
It’s a good thing for your toddler to push back and express their feelings (loudly). Yep, totally normal.
It’s not just hard for us moms, though. It’s exhausting.

Dealing with an opinionated, tantruming two-year-old can be a challenge for moms who are into peaceful parenting. But the answer may be easier than you think. Read the full article to get tips for managing the terrible twos ...and learn how we tamed the tantrums in just one afternoon. peaceful parenting | terrible twos | terrific twos | toddler tantrums | positive parenting | gentle parenting | findyourmomtribe.com/terrible-twos

Recently my two-year-old (Sarah) has been extra grumpy. Shrieking at her siblings. Falling on the floor crying over the smallest things. Yelling, “NO!” Pushing back.
Related Reading: How to Say “No” To Your Strong-Willed Child (without using the word “no”!)
Ya know, the typical.
I felt very frustrated with her.
As a working mom, I don’t have time to spend an hour negotiating with her about getting in the bathtub. Or brushing her teeth. Or eating lunch.
I thought about what I could do to help her moodiness.
And then I remembered something.
In my counseling practice, whenever I talk to parents who are concerned about their child’s sudden irritability, the first thing I ask them is, “How often do you get quality, one-on-one time with your child?”
The answer is almost always, “Very rarely.”
Yes, sometimes the answer to a child’s irritable behavior is more complex. BUT, oftentimes parents can see a dramatic change overnight, simply by eliminating distractions and really focusing on pouring attention on the child. Don’t underestimate the power of deep connection!
It was then I realized I needed to take my own advice. My two-year-old is the youngest of three kids. When was the last time I spent any quality time with her?
Sure, I nurse and rock her to sleep at naptime and bedtime. But when was the last time we just played together? Enjoying each other’s company?
I decided to try it.

A post shared by Marianna C (@findyourmomtribe1) on Jun 26, 2018 at 2:00pm PDT

How to Handle the Terrible Twos (Peaceful Parenting Style)

Usually, after lunch, I try to squeeze in a little work while she plays. But this particular day I decided to skip answering emails.
“I want to play with you,” I told her. “Yay, play with you!” she exclaimed.
I put away my phone and left it in the other room. (This hurt a little, haha!)
We went to her room and pulled out a bunch of pretend food. We got her favorite stuffed animals. And we had the biggest, most lavish pretend picnic ever.
Confession: I don’t love playing pretend. It’s not my favorite.
But I wish you could have seen the delight in her eyes. She couldn’t have been happier.
And ya know what? I actually had fun. We ended our playtime with snuggles and a good book.
And the really amazing thing was…it worked.
After her nap, she woke up happy. And she stayed happy. She didn’t have one single tantrum the rest of the day.
It’s been about a week since my little experiment.
I don’t get to spend quality one-on-one time with her every day. I try, but I do have two other kids, too.
But I do try to focus on our bond every day. I’m making more of an effort to affirm her with my words.
I’m trying (trying!) to put my phone away more and not be so distracted when I’m with her.
And her behavior has improved dramatically.

Don't underestimate the power of deep connection.

Tips for How to Handle the “Terrible Twos”

Here are a few ideas and tips for spending quality, one-on-one time with your toddler:
1. Immerse yourself in the world of imagination. Play picnic, veterinarian, dinosaurs, trains, baby dolls, doll house, legos, building blocks…really give yourself permission to immerse yourself in play.


2. Smile and be silly. If you do this begrudgingly, they can sense it. You have to be authentic. Lots of giggles and laughter really do wonders for building a closer bond.
3. Eliminate distractions. I know it’s hard to put the phone away, but it’s totally worth it. Make sure the iPad and TV are off, too. This time is all about them.
4. Have fun. It’s okay to set aside the worries and stress of the day and have a little fun. Dance, twirl, sing…have fun!
5. Use words of affirmation. Even though your toddler may not have the receptive language to understand everything you tell her, the message still comes across. Tell her she’s a great kid. That you love spending time with her. Remind her that she’s important to you.
Related Reading: From Mom Rage to Cool, Calm & Collected (almost instantly!)
Most popular: Self-Control for Moms: 8 Ways to Stay Calm (Instead of Losing Your Cool)
Enjoy this post? Please save it on Pinterest or use the icons to share this post to your favorite social media platform. It seems like such a small thing, but it would really mean the world to me!

In just one afternoon you can turn those "terrible twos" into terrific twos! Dealing with an opinionated, tantruming two-year-old can be a challenge for moms who are into peaceful parenting. But the answer may be easier than you think. Read the full article to get tips for managing the terrible twos ...and learn how we tamed the tantrums in just one afternoon. peaceful parenting | toddler tantrums | positive parenting | gentle parenting | findyourmomtribe.com/terrible-twos

 

PS – Do you desire to be a more peaceful parent and want to build a closer bond with your child? Check out my private Facebook group for Christian moms learning and growing together towards more intentional parenting. (You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!)

Parenting

How to Say “No” To Your Strong-Willed Child (without using the word “no”!)

  March 27, 2018

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our full disclosure for more info. If you’re the parent of a strong-willed child, you may be feeling at your wits-end. It seems that every little thing sets them off. You feel like you’re walking on eggshells, afraid […]

Read more

Newsletter

About Me

About me

Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marianna - a homeschool mom by day and a mental health counselor by night. I'm passionate about supporting and encouraging other moms. Click the first circle below to learn more!

Categories

  • Blogging
  • Parenting
  • Pregnancy
  • Recipes
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness
  • This is Why the Third Week of Motherhood is the Hardest

    This is Why the Third Week of Motherhood is the Hardest

    February 18, 2019
  • The Ultimate Guide to Gentle Parenting: how to build and maintain a close relationship with your child

    The Ultimate Guide to Gentle Parenting: how to build and maintain a close relationship with your child

    February 10, 2019
  • Breast Milk Facts: 25+ Mind-Blowing Benefits of Breast Milk

    Breast Milk Facts: 25+ Mind-Blowing Benefits of Breast Milk

    January 20, 2019
  • 21 Fun and Random Holidays to Celebrate with Kids this Winter

    21 Fun and Random Holidays to Celebrate with Kids this Winter

    January 9, 2019
  • 20 Moms Spill Their Most Embarrassing Mom Moments

    20 Moms Spill Their Most Embarrassing Mom Moments

    December 17, 2018
  • Postpartum Anxiety: One mom’s story + tips for relief

    Postpartum Anxiety: One mom’s story + tips for relief

    December 9, 2018
  • The Ultimate List of Non-Toy Gift Ideas for Girls

    The Ultimate List of Non-Toy Gift Ideas for Girls

    November 13, 2018
  • Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Free Printables 2018

    Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Free Printables 2018

    November 6, 2018
  • Online Speech Therapy for Kids: Does it really work?

    Online Speech Therapy for Kids: Does it really work?

    October 24, 2018
  • 14 Family Rituals to Make You Feel Closer

    14 Family Rituals to Make You Feel Closer

    October 8, 2018
Copyright © 2019 Find Your Mom Tribe. All rights reserved.
Theme: marlin by VolThemes. Powered by WordPress.
Note: Statements on this Website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please click here to read this site's Terms and Conditions.