Little Terror on Board

Just go back from Langkawi yesterday, it was a lovely short holiday. On the flight back however, L started acting out. I swear the whole plane could hear her. She got woken up from her sleep when daddy tried to ‘adjust’ her head and her tantrum started. There was no way to placate her.

“I want a pillow” and when I got her a pillow she hit the pillow “I don’t want the pillow like that”

“I don’t want daddy. Daddy go home” and when I carried her she struggled “I don’t want mommy. I want Daddy”

 “I want milk” and when I took down her bag to make her milk she cried “I want daddy to make it”

“I want to buckle myself” and when I gave her the seat belt she threw it away “I don’t want the seat belt”

“I don’t want you to carry me. Put me down!” and when I put her down she kicked and screamed “I don’t want to sit down”

… and on and on and on she went…

You can imagine all the struggling, yelling and screaming while I tried to keep my cool. She then sat on the floor and started bouncing up and down. When I told her she’ll hurt herself that way, she said “I want to hurt myself”. There is just no way to win her over. So although the seat belt sign was on (there was a slight turbulence), I had no choice but to just let her be. One thing I learnt about dealing with strong headed kids like L, there really is no point in trying to talk sense into them while they’re in their tantrumy mode cos they’ll just rebut everything you say.  The best solution is to simply ignore them and let them be until they calm down. So finally I told L calmly, OK you do what you want. She climbed onto the seat, lied down on the pillow and drank her milk. That was all and she was back in her cheery mood after her bottle of milk. So what was that big fuss all about? I still wonder…

Gosh I sure hope this bad behaviour doesn't repeat itself on our flight to Perth this month end!

Terrible Two to Terrific Two

I'm not sure what got into my little girl but she was such a little angel yesterday.

Last night when we were leaving Po-Po's house, I told H to pick up his dominoes. He refused and told Po-Po to pick them up instead. He was at the door and demanded to go home (now!) so that he can have his milk. Little L said "I will help" and so she did. She helped Po-Po put the dominoes back into the box, and we all praised her for being helpful.

On the way back in the car, I told H that he's not to bite the teat of his milk bottle. He's now left with only one bottle with teat, so he can only have one bottle of milk before bed (H has a tendency to ask for 2 sometimes 3 bottles of milk before he finally falls asleep). Little L said "I can share my bottle with kor-kor." How generous of little L to want to share her bottles. So I praised her for being nice and generous to her big brother.

After reading them a book, I told H & L it was time for bed. H, as usual, gave me a whole bunch of excuses for not wanting to go to bed. L is normally the same but last night, she obediently followed me to her room and allowed the nanny to get her ready for bed (again this is unusual as she normally insists that I get her ready instead). No fuss at all!

Is my Terrible Two turning into a Terrific Two?!!  Hmmm... maybe a little praise does go a long way!

Watch what you say

I have to watch what I say to the kids cos they have the tendency to use the same exact words back at me. Sometimes I don't know whether to be angry or to laugh...

Bedtime
H: Mummy I want milk
I went downstairs and came back up with H's bottle of milk
H: <Taking the bottle from me> I want my jum-jum (bolster)
Me: Why din you say so when i went down to make your milk dear. Go get it yourself, mummy's legs will be tired going up and down

While packing L's bag getting ready to go out
Me: Dear can you please help mummy get mei mei's diapers from her room?
H: OK <And off he went - up to L's room and down with L's diaper>
Me: Thanks. Oh only 1? I need 2. Can you please get another one?
H: <Gave me the grumpy look> But my legs will be tired going up and down

 ------------

Eating durian
Me: Dear do you want some? Come here, mummy will give you some
For a good whole 10 minutes I was asking him the same question while he was running around and simply ignoring me. After I've finished and washed my hands...
H: Mummy I want some
Me: Sorry dear, I've washed my hands already. I don't want to dirty them again

Cleaning up after playing with his play-doh
Me: H, you're not done cleaning up, why are there still pieces on the floor? Come pick them up
H: You pick it up. I've washed my hands already I don't want to dirty them again

Oh my Terrible Two!

Being a mom is no easy job. It's amazing how 2 kids from the same parents with the same upbringing turn out to be so different. I have mastered the art of dealing with H but with my little princess L (or should I say little tiger), I'm still at a loss!

Is this the sign of the oh so notorious Terrible Two stage everyone's talking about? I remember having to go through a whiny tantrumy stage with H, but with L, it is a whole new ball game. She's only just turned 2, but her defiance and hard headedness started months before.

Scene 1: Trying to get her into the bath
Me: If you don't bathe you can't follow mommy out. Do you want to bathe?
L: NO!
Me: Then you can't go out. Do you want to go out or stay at home?
L: Stay at home!

Scene 2: Struggling to get her into her car seat in the sweltering afternoon
Me: L please get into your seat quick, it's hot out here
L: It's not hot it's cold
Me: If you don't get in mommy will leave you here <while struggling to put her in her car seat>
L: NO! The seat is hot
Me: Ok mommy will leave you here <carrying and putting her in front of the shop>
L: OK! <and off she went to play with some kids who were in front of the shop>

Scene 3: Trying to get her to stay in her car seat
L: Open open <pulling at the buckle>, i want to sit on mommy's lap
Me: No, mommy's driving and it's dangerous...
Granny who is way way more patient than I am: Dear you're special so you have a special seat...
L: I'm not special!
Granny: This is your princess throne. Are you a princess?
L: NO! I'm not a princess, I'm a TIGER!

So you see, threats won't work with my lil tiger L. In fact I have to remind myself not to use them with her anymore since they more often than not backfire on me. So how do you tame a lil tiger like L?