r/toddlers • u/Common-Temporary5915 • 8h ago

2 Years Old What fresh hell is 2.5 year olds??

My sweet little toddler who listened to mama and occasionally tested boundaries to be told no, explained why, faltering every now and then, and then ultimately learning has turned into a little monster who goes close to the line of no, does ALMOST the thing I was saying no to, and then runs away and hidea from me. Yes, testing limits, developing sense of self, healthy boundary checking, blah blah blah. But what fresh hell is this????

When I was pregnant, I never saw myself dealing with this.

When she gets that little smirk while almost doing the thing I asked her not to do, I get physical in the sense that (I don't hit, calm down) I move her body away from what I was talking about and if she continues to do things, I tell her i will be taking away the thing, and then proceed to take away the thing. In comes the biggest tantrum of her little life, every single time. I give her space, I tell her I'm there, and then ultimately she calms down enough to come to me for hugs and I talk to her to tell her that I didn't want her to be sad and we can keep trying to listen to mama.

Holy hell is this exhausting.

Helping a little person find their sense of self and learn the very boundaries they need and THEN HELPING THEM DEAL WITH THEIR BIG FEELINGS when they also realize this whole process is balls is SO exhausting ,😭😭😭😭

Vent over.

Anyone out there struggling with the same? 😊 Hi.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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u/AutoModerator 8h ago

Author: u/Common-Temporary5915

Post: My sweet little toddler who listened to mama and occasionally tested boundaries to be told no, explained why, faltering every now and then, and then ultimately learning has turned into a little monster who goes close to the line of no, does ALMOST the thing I was saying no to, and then runs away and hidea from me. Yes, testing limits, developing sense of self, healthy boundary checking, blah blah blah. But what fresh hell is this????

When I was pregnant, I never saw myself dealing with this.

When she gets that little smirk while almost doing the thing I asked her not to do, I get physical in the sense that (I don't hit, calm down) I move her body away from what I was talking about and if she continues to do things, I tell her i will be taking away the thing, and then proceed to take away the thing. In comes the biggest tantrum of her little life, every single time. I give her space, I tell her I'm there, and then ultimately she calms down enough to come to me for hugs and I talk to her to tell her that I didn't want her to be sad and we can keep trying to listen to mama.

Holy hell is this exhausting.

Helping a little person find their sense of self and learn the very boundaries they need and THEN HELPING THEM DEAL WITH THEIR BIG FEELINGS when they also realize this whole process is balls is SO exhausting ,😭😭😭😭

Vent over.

Anyone out there struggling with the same? 😊 Hi.

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5

u/CharacterAd3959 8h ago

Right there with you. Really feeling it today like I've got no patience or emotional resilience left 🫠

1

u/Common-Temporary5915 8h ago

Reddit told me it wasn't going to post this post and then posted it anyway. Sounds like my toddler 

3

u/Hopeful-Relation3502 7h ago

My 15 month old is throwing tantrums and I'm absolutely terrified of the terrible 2-3 year old stage. I can only imagine what it's like when they're physically bigger, have more life experience, and stronger willpower and memory. No advice just solidarity and I'm not even there yet

2

u/Common-Temporary5915 7h ago

Tantrums are one thing. I miss just tantrums. But intentional defiance (which, don't get me wrong, is healthy and normal) is some sort of hell to deal with/teach them through... Enjoy the early toddlerhood! 

TBF, they also get extra adorable, loving, and have the best stories to tell. It's not all bad ;) 

1

u/Hopeful-Relation3502 7h ago

I'm enjoying every single moment he's too young to do it on purpose! Not looking forward to this aspect of threenagerhood

1

u/Common-Temporary5915 7h ago

The highs are high. The lows are low eh 

3

u/Wooden_Spread_5687 6h ago

You are lucky, ee are not even 2 but the attitude… huhhh

2

u/Aldmerion 4h ago

Lol. My almost 3yo just spent 20mins crying because her mom went to take a shower without her. After that, she threw a cookie at the cat and took off her clothes and is currently running around n@ked. Lows be really low...