Bully

Ugh, when one stage is over, another is sure to start! I think we are getting over the biting stage. Now we are starting the - I'll just walk behind you and push you when you least expect it or slap you when I'm mad stage. Fun times!

K is a very independent child. He could sit by himself for half an hour and play with stacking cups. B on the other hand is a lost puppy without his brother. You would think it would be cute, well it's not. B has decided he is taking the bully role. K will just be walking to go get a toy and minding his own business & B will walk up behind him and just push him. Or if B gets punished he takes it out on K. Honestly I'm at my wits end. Nothing I say or do will make him stop. I have tried time outs, ignoring him, explaining be nice, etc. The boy is stubborn...I wonder where he gets that from? He is truly becoming a devil child. Is it normal to love your child but not like them? This wouldn't bother me so much if it wasn't happening all day. I think it is starting to turn K into a 'crybaby'. He used to be able to handle his own and would push back. Now, he just falls and cries. I'm not sure if it's because it is all the time or if he wants my attention after the attack.

Needless to say, I am on a mission today. I am going to see if google can help. I refuse raise a bully. Isn't he too young for this!?!

Timeout

The boys are getting to the age where they definitely need some discipline! Naughty behaviors include biting, smacking, pushing, screaming and whatever else they can do to cause some drama. I don't believe in 'spanking'. At this age they mimic behaviors and how confusing is it to a 18 month old for me to spank them for smacking their brother? Any person with common sense should see that. I also feel like people who spank their kids are doing it for their own gratification. They are frustrated that their toddler is not listening to them and they take out their own frustrations on the kid.

Enough with the rambling. So we did start timeouts. So far, I think they understand why they go there. Of course, they don't understand when I say 'don't do that our your going to timeout'...they just give me a smile and see how far they can go. After doing this for a couple of weeks, they will walk themselves over to time out when told. We're still working on the staying there part. I have realized three problems with trying to do timeout with twins. One is at this age it is impossible to put them both in timeout at the same time. They won't stay there so all you are doing is chasing them around. Two, while one is in timeout the other wants to entertain. Third, a lot of times I tell one to go to timeout and the other one will go. It is confusing at this age to associate their name with a specific action.

I have noticed a decrease in biting episodes since we started timeout. The smacking and pushing we are still working on!