Nothing other than those words could have stopped us in our tracks; especially after the past4-5days with JT. We’re not sure if it’s because Mommy was home all week, he’s acting out some jealousy over Aiden (aka Tater) now being in the picture and our weekly/daily cycle of events, or if it’s just a phase (hitting the terrible two’s a tad early maybe?)… but JT has been crazy lately!
Anything sets him off. Tell him he’s got to do or go somewhere he wasn’t already doing or going - he’d fling himself on the floor and throw a screaming tantrum. We tried spankings; nothing hard - quick swat on bottom; we tried stern voices; we tried placating him with candy and bribes; nothing phased him.
So determined to not let our lives be run by an 18mo old - we tried a different approach yesterday. TIME OUT on the bottom step of stairs for 1 minute. He must have sat on that step for 30minutes in total yesterday, but we think, by the end of the day - it was working. He’d cry and throw his tantrum on the step, he’d try to just getup from step and walk away - but we’d give a stern “NO - TIMEOUT” and put him back on the step immediately. He’d sit back down and give us the most horrendously pitiful looks. Watching us through the slats in stairs with tears in his eyes, not knowing whether to try again or shout louder or what his other options were.
After the minute’s up we ask him if he’s ready to be a good boy - every time JT jumps up, smiles, claps his hands and says “YEAAYY!”. He then gives a high-five and a hug to the “offending adult” and runs off to play.
Yet even this scenario was starting to be played and the joke was on us. A few times he was put there yesterday the moment his toosh hit the step - no matter how horribly he was crying or screaming - he’d put a fake smile on, standup, clap his hands and say “YEAAAY!”. Much to his shagrin, he’d get a stern “NO - TIMEOUT” and a quick placement back on the step until he had spent the full minute on the step.
By the end of the day - he seemed to be doing a little better - we’d only have to threaten “time-out”, he’d shake his head no and drop the attitude; allowing for his great fun personality to shine through.
As Uncle Kevin and Aunt Karen we’re walking out the door to go home for the evening, he began to throw a fit because he wanted to go outside as well - to play. Which it was way to late for so we gave a quick threaten of timeout… he stood there… and started saying/waving bye to them as they were walking out; as if the thought of a tantrum never entered his mind. Karen smiled and said, “Bye, love you.” as she walked out.
Low and behold - our angel was back in a flash as he responded kindly with “BYE. Luh Loo.” We stopped dead in our tracks. He’d never said “Love You.” before to anyone. We then carried him outside so he could continue his bye-byes and he did it again, this time to Kevin… “BYE. Luh Loo.”
It was Sunday, Mommy’s last day of vacation, late in the evening before we began another week of commuting and working and juggling - and the stress and anticipation of it all melted away with just hearing him say two little words…
“Luh Looh”
