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Oh my dear Shelly - keep that seatbelt fastened and enjoy the ride

I have three grandchildren - ages 4 (boy), 23 months (girl) and 11 months (girl).

Those girls are going to give this Granny a heart attack...LOL.

23 month old has always been a firecracker - willful and spirited...and now her favorite thing is to SCREAM (even when happy). And NO is her favorite word, "NO, Mee-Maw!!" "NO Mommy!!" etc., etc., ad nauseum...even if she means yes. Funny thing...that curse we impart upon our children ("Wait until you have your own kids...") - it works - GD 23 months is Just. Like. Her. Mother. BUT...it trickles down to me because I am her 3rd favorite person (after mommy & daddy) and since she's so comfortable with me, her true colors show. But on the other side of the coin, she is snuggly, affectionate, smart as hell (she already recognizes every letter in the alphabet and can count to 20). I frankly think when she has these meltdowns she's overstimulated, tired, or hungry. The willfulness is just because she's too damned smart for her own (or our own) good and she gets ahead of herself and gets frustrated. And she wants what she wants!

The 11-month-old GD is learning quickly and I can clearly see when the smoke clears from the older GD, this one will take over.

My grandson was/is just the most laid-back, easy -going kid ever. That's why his mom had another one (lol) and why his aunt (my other DD) had one (double lol). It's not 100% true that girls are more challenging in the "spirited" arena, but I do think they do come with extra drama...and they know how to use it.

You're doing great, Shel...it's exhausting, I know all too well. I read your post and it was deja vu for my DD at her age and now my GD. Good times.

Hang in there...if I remember correctly, my spirited DD became much easier at around 4.

edited for spelling

[This message edited by Lalagirl at 2:20 PM, November 18th (Monday)]

My son was mild. When he was a toddler he would say to me "I'm going to have a fit." then he would lay down on the sofa under a blanket. He sure showed me who's boss

Oh I am so jealous of you. My daughter is tiny and delicate like a lovely little elf and she can throw one hell of a fit. You wouldn't know it to look at her but she's such a freaking pistol.

Yeah....my daughter is ANYTHING BUT subtle when she doesn't get what she wants....like seriously! Right now my sister just sent me a picture of her walking around my sisters house naked as a jay bird to "air out" her problem area! Its the cutest blackmail photo I've ever seen!

Shelly,

My DGD is 18 months, and a red headed firecracker. Her mom works full time and goes to school full time. They live with me. DD is also a single mom, as am I. My youngest DD is 18, so I'm a little out of practice parenting a toddler.

She does the back arch trick, is starting to throw temper tantrums, climbing seems to be her thing- little monkey that she is.

I am learning that she picks up my tone of voice. If I say 'No' in a regular voice -she pays no attention to me and continues to do what she shouldn't. If I say it sternly, she pays attention, doesn't mezzanine she doesn't do it, she may do it but she knows she's doing wrong. If I loudly say 'no' she stops immediately. It helps, I tend to yell when she is running away, our road (right now) has a lot of construction vehicles going up and down the street so loud is the only voice you can hear outside.

She gets it. It sounds like Piper knows when she's pushing your buttons-take away the buttons.

Hugs,

K