Summer of rain, summer of pain

Just as the strange, two-months-plus of completely abnormal rain storms left our area this summer, the pain started. And it's been inflicted upon me ever since by my daughter. For a while it appeared that she'd outgrown her scratching phase (a phase which hasn't been mentioned here in so long because she really had seemed to give it up finally, after all that grief). But over the last few weeks, TWO has kicked in with a vengeance and with it came a whole lot of ass-whoopin' (mine, that is, at the hands of my formerly sweet, kind, adorable baby girl).

If Delaney doesn't like what she hears from me, she scratches me. If she doesn't want her diaper changed, she hits me. If she's unhappy with where she is or what we're doing she'll bite me. These last four days it seems that all she needs as a reason to hurt me is to be breathing as she started walking up to me and scratching me or throwing things for absolutely no reason at all.

Timeouts aren't working. Taking away her toys? She could care less. Threatening her that she won't get to go here or there or do anything fun with her friends or cousins? She laughs in my face. And I? Feel like the world's biggest failure.

"Pay now or pay later," my mom's friend said when my mom told her what an easy baby Delaney was. Could that really be true? Is that what's happpening now? Am I being paid back in karmic spades because Delaney only cried when she was hungry and started sleeping through the night at six weeks of age? Because if I had to do it all again, I think I'd rather stay up all night with a screaming infant than take the unfounded rage of a two-year-old that's aimed at me nearly all day long.

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog post for a hellacious sinus infection made worse by the fact that its host is pregnant and therefore doesn't have access to any really great drugs. Posts to resume after the pregnant lady is able to breathe again.

Comments

[Arkie Mama]

The todder rage will pass -- probably more quickly than a sinus infection during pregnancy!

(I swear, I had one that lasted for months when I was pregnant with Ethan... and no good drugs. Ugh.

Hang in there!

[Cyndy]

We are in the same boat - Leda is "testing" us at every chance. Anytime she's told no, she points at me and tells me to "Stop talking at me!" Oh, yes, and hitting and kicking, if I am in range. It's wonderful.

Nothing working here either. Keep at it though. I refuse to let a two year old rule my world.

Of course, when she does something cute and loving, she can rule my world all she wants!

Hope you feel better soon!

[kathy]

Oh! Sinus infection during pregnancy and 2-yr-old testing?! You poor thing!

My only advice on discipline is find something that *really* upsets her, and use it Consistently. Consistently. Every time. Without fail. Unfortunately I have no idea what will work for her... :(

[Kate]

So, so sorry! The toddler rage fest will eventually end, but it's so hard in the throes! Would she be persuaded by withdrawal of bedtime books? I know it sounds like the wrong thing to withhold, but a couple times that was the only thing that worked for us with our oldest. Timeout? How long, she asked, smiling. No toy mattered that much to her, no outing, either. But tell her she was facing no books after bath and that was it. As for the sinus infection -- I had a whopper of one while nursing and faced a similar drought of decent pharmaceutical relief. Hang in there!!

[karen]

We found toddler rage abated with better communication - it wasn't so much the not getting what they wanted, more the not having us understand what they wanted. When Delaney gets riled up, try giving her an M&M. The unexpected treat should distract her enough that you can maybe get in a rational word or two...or even just divert her to something less rage inducing. Good luck with your cold! I hope Roger will pamper you double since you can't have the good drugs.

[Domestic Diva]

Hang in there!