Why is my toddler so hard?!?!

Question

My son is almost 21 months and a total terror.  Is this normal?????? He always seems so pissed off and whines/cries for everything.  Is this just part of the terrible 2s or am I doing something wrong??? What’s the best way to discipline without getting mad/frustrated back?

Answer

It’s normal. Imagine how frustrating it would be to not be able to communicate exactly what you want/need. Couple that with not being able to regulate your emotions (a 2 year olds brain is literally incapable of doing so) and that’s what causes so many tantrums and meltdowns. I’m just *there* for my daughter. I don’t ignore and I don’t reprimand because she’s not *being bad*. She is just having a hard time. I let her have as much time as she needs to regulate herself and then I talk to her about whatever emotion she was feeling and how to handle it better next time. Trying to teach her to identify them early on so she grows into an adult that doesn’t have problems. I was ignored or reprimanded when I had emotions and it took me years to be able to allow people to help me through a hard time.

Answer

Mine just turned 2. We ignore it.

Answer

I would work on signing with him. It helps bridge the gap between not being able to talk and being able to fully communicate. He's just frustrated that he can't communicate what he wants and needs to. Plus a little bit of the terrible 2s.

Why is my toddler so hard?!?!

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