Ok ladies, I've got some questions. I've also got a 21 month old son. You're probably already guessing my questions.
Where to start..... Ok, let's go through our day today. We got up today at 7 am, got dressed, spent a few minutes outside in the back yard playing then headed to his gym class. At his gym he's like any other 21 month old child. He's a little shyer than some kids but just a normal little kid. He does great in his class, waits his turn, puts toys up when the teacher tells him to, normal kid. Not yet a group kid but a good kid.
Then we decided to go to Joann's to look around a little. Get through the door, set him down, there he goes. He takes off running throughout the store. I catch up to him and pick him up. Bear in mind that while I'm picking him up he's screaming as loud as he can, kicking the snot out of me, it's like picking up a wild animal. Then he goes into the limp noodle mode, still screaming bloody murder of course. He's strong as an ox and its all I can do to hold on to him. Finally I get his attention enough to ask if he will be good a walk with mommy if I let him down to walk. He of course says Yes. I put him down and there he goes.
It really scares me when he runs off and I can't catch him. People steal kids like a hobby these days. Obviously one of my questions is; how do you other moms deal with this behavior? Jacob is my first, only and last baby boy. I've dealt with my girls but never had these issues. I worry also because its getting so difficult taking him out shopping that I sometimes just don't go. I'm afraid he will get seriously hurt or lost if I can't catch up to him fast enough. Most of the store doors in our area are the kind where you step on the matts and the doors open into parking lots. I'm really concerned.
Let me also tell you that he is the sweetest little boy you'd ever meet. He's kind, sharing, loving. He's just really difficult at times. On the other hand, he never cries for things from the stores, he's just running off and sometimes into things. He doesn't tear anything up, he just likes to touch everything which then usually ends up in the floor.
Is this normal little boy behavior? How have/did you deal with it? I try to explain to him how dangerous it is for him to be without mommy in a store, but again he's 21 months old so not able to understand appropriately. I've left stores without finishing my shopping before, trying to get him to understand that if he is not good then we will leave; doesn't work. You might ask why he doesn't ride in the cart, that's because he continually climbs out of it and again I'm worried he's going to hurt himself. That's why I started letting him walk.
Even sometimes at home he will have a huge temper tantrum. I'm talking screaming, kicking, scratching, going "limp noodle boy", the whole nine yards. This is all just recent developments. He was always so sweet that this new kid he is caught me off guard. Is this just a phase that boys go through? Do they eventually grow out of this? I've heard of the "terrible twos" but this is twos, threes, and fours combined, lol. Has anybody been here, how did you handle it? I'm really not sure what's the best path.
Again, help me. I have a toddler.........................................
Angel
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