Here I am…. like every other night. On my computer… finishing up orders and catching up on blog posts. I’m editing photos I took from last Friday. It was a beautiful day in Portland…. a rare warm-enough day for March. So yeah, I wanted to get out of the house. I called up my mom and we headed to Sellwood. A cute little spot in Portland for a day of window shopping. We had lunch at a deli/bakery and wandered to Portland Homestead: farm shop in the city! Played with the chicks, goats, and ducks. Ruari loved it.
{My Style: //lightweight cardigan: c/o Fresh Produce//Dress: Marshall’s//Belt: thrift//Tights: f21//Boots:f21//}
She skipped her nap that day (which has become the norm… sadly)… so, around 4 things went downhill…. meltdown city. That meant we had to head out. Another day ending with a meltdown. This is how it is these days. I have a toddler. A 2-year-old. Any and every thing I say is answered with a “No!” or “I don’t want to…” followed by the most dramatic meltdown e v e r.
I know it’s a phase, but they (you know, “they”. All the people that warned me about age 2) all told me it would happen: and, I didn’t really think too much about it. Yeah… maybe it will happen. Maybe not. Well: it’s happening. This past week has been an interesting week. My girl has been testing the waters and throwing some amazing tantrums: in public. Gah. Learning what to do… on the fly… in public with a crazy toddler? Goodness. That’s tough.
Timeouts have stopped working (damn!). She now asks for timeouts (that stinker). So, taking a note from Mandy, we now put her favorite toys in timeout. I think it’s working. We’ll see.
Linking up with Extraordinary Ordinary for Just Write. And, Mandy with Harper’s Happenings.
{Related Posts: //Book Nerd//I have a kid.//Picnic in the Park//}
soo lovely pictures. I like your tattoos.
oooh! You need a glitter jar! (not my blog )http://www.herewearetogether.com/2011/06/27/another-mind-jar/ you could make a portable one to bring for when your out. love this concept since I really dislike toys in time out…..but thats a super personal decision.
I've seen those glitter jars! I need to actually make one. Thanks for the link!
I like the color of the cardigan sweater you are wearing. The whole outfit looks cute together. 🙂
Thank you so much!
My 2 year old also throws crazy tantrums. I try to give them as much love as I can muster up. I also try to give her choices (which I think another commenter mentioned): do you want to walk out the door or do you want mama to carry you?
My 2 year old also throws crazy tantrums. I try to give them as much love as I can muster up. I also try to give her choices: do you want to walk out the door or do you want mama to carry you?
I try and do that too. One that always works is: do you want to watch a cartoon today? Or, no cartoons? Ha!
I offer choices whenever possible with my 2 1/2 year old. This has help to dramatically decrease his meltdowns (due to lack of nap…grrrr…we are unfortunately going through that transition phase right now as well). He's all about doing things himself, "I do it," is his favorite phrase. For example, I'll say things like, "would you like to pick out your shoes yourself, or would you like mommy to do it for you?" Fill in with whatever the situation calls for. Getting dressed and putting on shoes is a big battle for us. Absolutely love your outfit, by the way! Way cute!
I try and do that too. But, mostly she just ignores what I said…. ha! Oh well. 😉
Love your outfit! Love the pictures.. I hope your week is going lovely! 😀
It is! Thank you.
Great pictures. I love your tattoos. xo, rv
http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/
Thank you!
My oldest who is now 3 could throw some serious tantrums. And the lungs on that boy! Toy timeouts worked best for him too, but sometimes there was nothing that would. And we packed up and left. Thankfully he's outgrown it. Now my baby (16 months) is starting to have them. I just laugh…what an ammeter compared to my oldest 🙂
Hee! You are a pro now!
can we talk for 2 seconds about where your body went? you look like you'd float away in a strong breeze. AKA I'M REALLY JEALOUS AND YOU'RE REALLY SKINNY. AND PRETTY. AND I LOVE YOu.
Hush you! You are a hot mama too.
Hi Oregonian! 🙂 And, yeah: it's pretty neat. Especially now since they have little baby chicks in. 🙂
Hang in there, mama. I've found with Hunter he goes through stages of what type of discipline works for him. We are now in the stage where only taking things away, like toys or tv, is working.
Yeah. The toy timeout seems to be the best. But, it has to be an important toy…. like a favorite horsey.
portland homestead sounds like what toddler dreams are made of. thanks for the heads up!
You look cute!
I totally know what you mean about the tantrums…my oldest is 2.5 and is pushing me to my limits every single day. I just keep trying to remember *it's just a phase!* Sigh.
Just a phase. Just a phase. I think repeating it helps. 😉 AND, knowing that you're not the only mama with a crazy toddler. Hee.
But what a cute 'lil stinker you have! My youngest boy kind of skipped the "Terrible Twos" making me think they really didn't exist.
Now that he's 3, the 'lil stinker-ness is setting in (not to alarm you!)
Great blog! I'm visiting from Kimberly's blog…glad to have found another good blog to read!
– Jill
Hi, and welcome! I sort of have a feeling she will be a stinker for quite some time. She's very sassy. 😉
You look beautiful!
I'm in the exact same boat as you with a toddler who melts down in public. We just took her pacifier away last week (7 longest days ever!) and we did it the way you guys did, cut the tip off! Ever since she's been a little cray cray! I ease my mind with the whole "it's just a phase" thing, too!
I hope it's just a phase for both of us! And, good job on no more paci! It's hard on the soul. 🙂
As awkward as it feels the best thing you can do in public is just act like they are not throwing a tantrum. This was what worked for us hopefully it can help you as well. My son is 5 and has maybe only had 3 or 4 terribly embrassing meltdowns. We never rushed to get out of the store or whereever we were, we just finished what we needed to and I guess it kicked in to him that acting that way didn't phase us. One woman was really kind and even came up to me and thought I was great for staying so composed. I let her know that I was dieing of embrassment on the inside though haha.
Good luck!
Gah, that's so hard to do. Good for you! I'll try it next time…. I just don't like everyone eyeing me. Hee.
Oh, girl. I feel for you. My two-year-old is in full "I do it!" mode right now and it's killing us both. She insists on doing EVERYTHING herself, 90% of which she can't do (opening an impossibly heavy door) or takes her forever to do (all the steps for going potty) and then only with mounds of tears and frustration (on both our parts). And if I try to help, she throws raging tantrums. The bright side is that I know it will pass eventually. But in the meantime, I'm taking lots of deep breaths.
So many deep breaths! I'm happy Ruari hasn't really been into the "do-it-herself" thing….. at least: not yet! 😉
Thank you for joining in!
Oh the two year old defiance…I'm terrified of that stage with my currently nine month old spitfire. She's a doozy. I'll be holding my breath. I have two boys that didn't really do the tantrum thing. I know I'm IN FOR IT. heh.
The tantrums are just so neat. Hee….
I LOVE that belt!!!
Also?
I LOVE your blog!! Newest follower!!! 🙂
Thank you! And, hello!
It happens! My little one is going through the same thing she turns two in April! I have learned to just let her meltdown let
people stare!! LOL she gets out her system and we move on with our day!
Oh man. Yeah. They definitely stare. I put her backpack in timeout while we were out in public…. that really brought on the screams. BUT, she calmed down after 5 minutes.
*Gasp*! Couldn't help but notice the lovely tattoo poking out underneath the sleeve of your sweater. Do you have posts showing your whole tattoo? I just got my first one in February, so now I feel a crazy kindred spirit with other inked gals (even though my tat is tiny and on my foot).
By the way, I'm a newer reader to your blog, and I just eat your posts up! You are adorable and I love your style! I can't pull off the awesome vintage look you do. I always look like a stuffy grandma. 🙂
I understand that tattoo thing. 🙂 Here's a link to an older post I did when I first got the arm tat. https://thepapermama.com/2011/07/wordlessish-wedne…
AND, I'm ready for more…. yup. Ha! Just so spendy.
I love your outfit especially how you combined the blue tights! Those boots are fab too! Love your daughters outfit. Looks like she will bebe a fashionista like her mother. Oh the 2 year old tantrums. I will be honest I'd still take a 2 year old tantrum then a 7 year old one. Yes, yes its true. My daughter can have some doozies! Each age goes through some terrible moments!
Megan
Thank you! She chose the outfit all herself. 🙂 I can only imagine that girls will just have MANY moments. 🙂 I know I did…. especially around 13. Ha!
what a stinker! She is asking for timeouts, not going to lie, it made me laugh out loud!
She's such a stinker!