in

First time mums

I don’t understand my 2-year-old son’s behavior (he’s two years old, give or take three days)

Hello, everyone,

He’s been in the care of a child care provider since late May, who took time off in July (during which he was looked after by my family and occasionally at daycare). Before her time off, things weren’t too bad. he was just still a bit reserved.

But since he went back to the child care provider three weeks ago, it’s been really tough. My son gets frustrated very quickly, gives orders (rather aggressively) to the dog and to me, and says “MINE” for everything. I’m forced to constantly scold him for everything and nothing (and raise my voice because once he’s in the middle of a “tantrum,” he doesn’t listen) whether it’s in the evening or even more and more on the weekends.

Before, like so many children, he would also express his refusal (and I’d have to raise my voice too), but much less frequently and with much less intensity. It wasn’t to the point where he’d start flailing his arms in the air.

A little girl the same age, who’s cared for by the same child care provider, acts the same wayw but even more so, and has been doing so at home for several months now (so she’s had quite a few “punishments,” “naughty moments,” and “time-outs”).

Could my little one’s recent and changing behavior be due to the fact that he’s copying his classmate? Or does he not feel comfortable there? Is this just a normal phase of the “terrible twos”?


My patience is wearing thin, especially since he still isn’t sleeping through the night (he wakes up 2 or 3 times, for varying lengths of time), the nighttime weaning that had been going well for a month and a half has fallen apart, and the atmosphere at work is tense.

Sorry for the long post, I’ve got a lot on my mind...

Thanks, and have a great weekend