A Guest Post by Marissa from Motherhood Milestones
When my firstborn was approaching her second birthday, it seemed like I was seeing posts all over social media about the “terrible” twos.
I was reading about moms who hate this stage, and I was constantly told how horrible it would be. I was warned about the tantrums, the crying for no good reason and being bombarded with pictures of screaming toddlers.
Everywhere I looked, everyone who talked to me, was warning me about the “terrible twos.”
But you know what I discovered?
The twos are not terrible.
Yes, your two-year-old is going to have tantrums.
Yes, you will struggle with your two-year-old wanting to be independent.
Also, yes , your child will become frustrated for seemingly no reason.
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But that doesn’t make them terrible.
That doesn’t mean this entire year of their life has to be terrible– for you or them. In reality, it can be quite terrific.
What are the “terrible” twos?
What’s often referred to as the “terrible twos” is a time when your toddler begins to experience the desire to become more independent.
At this age, they haven’t developed the communication skills to tell us exactly what they are wanting.
This results in them becoming frustrated when they don’t get what they’re wanting, or they can’t do something on their own that they want to do.
Their frustration is shown through crying and/or screaming temper tantrums.
Tips for turning the Terrible Twos into Terrific Twos.
Make the rules clear.
Any rules that you need your toddler to know and follow, make them clear.
Be consistent, and make sure they know what kind of behavior is not allowed. It may take a little while for them to fully comprehend– that’s why consistency is important.
Keep a consistent napping and eating schedule.
When you let your two-year-old get too tired, or too hungry, it will cause their behavior to become worse than usual.
Avoid meltdowns and unnecessary temper tantrums by making sure your toddler naps and eats on schedule when they need it most.
When Tantrums Happen: take a step back and try to figure out what started the tantrum.
My son tends to get aggravated and throw a tantrum when he tries to do something and he can’t do it. He always calms down when I get on his level, explain what just happened, and then help him to accomplish his task.
Before getting worked up about your toddler having a tantrum, take a step back and try to figure out why they are having a tantrum– and how you can help them work past it.
Don’t Dwell on the Terrible
The majority of our issues with the “terrible twos” is that we have been conditioned to view this age as terrible.
We are constantly bombarded with statements about two-year-olds being terrible and as long as we continue to view them that way, it will never change.
Instead of focusing on the bad aspects of this age, focus on the good.
When I look at my two-year-old little boy, I don’t see a child who has tantrums for no reason.
I don’t see the mood swings and the fights for independence.
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I see a little boy who loves to learn new things, an adventurous child who yearns to climb and explore.
My baby is entering the transition into a big kid–with exuberance and a desire to grow and learn.
If you have a two-year-old or a little one approaching the age of two, I encourage you to not view this age as “terrible.”
Don’t call your child terrible, don’t focus on the challenging behavior.
Speak positive to your child. Focus on the good.
Encourage them to learn and grow like they so desperately want to do.
Hi there! My name is Marissa, and I am the founder of Motherhood Milestones Blog. I am a stay-at-home mom of two little ones. My daughter is three and my son just turned two. Being a mom is an adventure greater than I ever imagined! My personal journey is what led me to begin my blog. I’ve been blogging for a little over a year, and I am constantly changing and improving my site to be better for you– my readers. My goal is to provide you with valuable information about all of the general areas of motherhood; from pregnancy to preschool and everything in between.
Blog: Motherhood Milestones
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotherhoodMilestones
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