battle of wills

The Bear has never been one to easily give in. I still remember the doctor telling me when he was born that he didn't want to baby-sit him when he was 3. No joke. Nothing about "it's a boy" or "congratulations". I was told my kid had spunk.

This past week, we've been transitioning him from his crib to his big boy bed. The crib is a convertible one which means that it goes from crib to toddler bed to full size headboard.

The Bear had been trying to climb out of his crib. He had gotten one foot on top of the crib and it was only a matter of days before he was going to end up falling on the floor. I wasn't in any rush to switch him before Baby came, but things rarely happen on my timeline in this family.

He LOVES being in his "new" bed.


The problem is he can get out of it. All by himself. Whenever he wants. He's normally okay once he goes to sleep. The battle is getting him to lay in it long enough to fall asleep. He knows he's supposed to lay in it. He'll stay put as long as I'm in the room and goes scurrying back in as soon as I walk in the room.

It took almost an hour tonight to get him to stay in. Most of that hour the furthest I could get in leaving was shutting the door before he would be yelling and out of bed.

I'm not sure how long it's going to take to get him used to this idea. Supernanny gets it all done in less than an hour. I don't yell or even say anything. I just open the door and point to his bed.

Not our last battle of wills, I'm sure. Here's to opening I have more persistence than a 22 month old.

Fail.

The Bear has had a serious attitude issue the last few weeks. Granted, he's been feeling sick. However, he's approaching full out brat stage.

Hubby, The Bear and I went out to dinner last Thursday night. Hubby made it clear that The Bear is out of control. He refuses to sit in his high chair for the hour it takes to order and eat. No amount of snacks, toys or silly songs appeases him.

At church on Sunday, I had to take him to the nursery. He's always stayed with us during the service. I typically pay more attention to him than the sermon, but I want him to know what's expected of him. He always used to be just fine with his toys and such. I let him move about a little bit in the pew and there's lots of sitting and standing which keeps him entertained.

I don't know what happened to my sweet baby boy. He's only 16 months old, and I'm terrified to think it will only get worse as he approaches 2.

I feel like I'm failing as a mom. I don't know what to do.

It takes a village to raise a child

But, how many does it take to discipline one?

I'll admit it. Before the bear was born, I was judgmental about poor parenting. As the momma to an infant, I now have a little more patience with that screaming baby I encounter in the public arena. (Luckily, I have only had a few public displays of anger and have been able to make a quick exit.)

When is it okay to step in and tell someone else's kid to knock it off? I was around a 3 year old today who acted like a little heathen. Screaming, running around, jumping on me, stealing Cheerio's from my boy . . . I have yet to experience the world of toddlers. I finally put my foot down when he jumped on my son, and the bear started screaming. Heathen boy's mom was there and silent.

When can you intervene? I know moms sometimes are overwhelmed. And, sometimes they just become immune to bad behavior. Where's the boundary?