I'm not sure if it's a boy thing, or a second child thing, or just a Bee thing, but I'm pretty sure my son is a reincarnated Sumo wrestler. He has more strength than any child I've seen; even the Hulk would be impressed. We're talking "we've already decided he'll be a linebacker" type moves here, folks.
nine months old, taking down Noodle
Now, you might be thinking: Carrie, Noodle was diagnosed as hypotonic (low muscle tone) so anyone will feel strong compared to a child who's condition was also called 'rag doll syndrome'.
{okay, maybe you weren't thinking that. just nod your heads and say, "yes, Carrie, you are a mind reader!"}
That's true, Noodle has low tone as a baby. But here's the thing. My entire family comments on his strength. Everyone who's held him says, "wow, he's all muscle!" When even his doctor admits he's got quite a bit of strength, you can't ignore it anymore. Thankfully he assured me he's not 'stiff' or 'high-tone' as I worried, just that he's a strong little bugger. The funniest part is that he's only in the 10th percentile, so we have no idea where this brute strength actually comes from! Small but mighty.
Why does this matter? Am I bragging my son could have helped the Patriots win the Superbowl they so sadly lost? Is "professional wrestler" somehow a desirable thing to have on a toddler's resume?
NO. I need help. Desperately. Not only is Bee strong in body, but he's strong in will. Case in point: getting him in his carseat. Anyone not within earshot of his giggles and my clenched teeth pleas of: PLEASE. SIT. IN. YOUR. SEAT. NOW. HONEY. might consider calling Child Protective Services just by viewing the acrobatics required to settle him in there. Yesterday it took, and I'm NOT exaggerating, five minutes to get him in his carseat. God Bless the woman waiting to get into the car next to us who not only didn't call CPS but actually smiled and told me Noodle has cute hair.
Had she not been next to us, she might have thought I was being mugged.
calm, cool, and cooking in the kitchen
My husband has told me, in all seriousness, that he now purposely parks away from other cars so as not to cause a scene. I laugh only because it's true.
irony.
Diaper changes.
Getting him into pajamas.
Putting on his jacket.
He alternately pushes, kicks, and goes boneless to make these tasks impossible.
Yesterday, I think he might have purposely even pinched me.
Bee being the sweetie he is and hugging his cousin
I'm physically exhausted. Please help me. Is this normal? Does this happen to you? Did I create the spawn of The Hulk here? In the off chance I'm not alone, what tips and tricks do you use to help a small-but-mighty boy get dressed or even just to sit in his carseat?
Gosh I love these two.
Because if this is what he's capable at 20 months, then in a few years I'm screwed. Perhaps I should start hitting the weights at the gym just in case?
I adore my little bundle {of brute strength}!
HELP, oh wise ones!
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So funny I'm reading this today because I'm feeling the same way. Mine (Named B ha) turned from a sweet lovely little one into a crazy toddler man. He is 2 1/2 and I've never seen such will. It has been a fight with everything...carseat...diapers...eating. I havent even attempted a store. You should see the scene that he causes there. Not to mention he is 36lbs and I'm 26 weeks pregnant with number 2! (another boy might I add) Im starting to freak out just a bit! I'll be checking to see those tips! Just know you are not alone! I'm in the trenches too!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG I am laughing as my Bubby is the same way! I am waiting for the day the neighbors call children and youth on me. It makes me feel better knowing that I do not have the only strong willed munchkin. Sadly I have no advice. Some days when I'm at the end of my rope I will cave in a give a lollipop or will do diaper changes in front of the TV with Lightning McQueen on the screen!!!
ReplyDeleteSelf-limiting timeouts? When O doesn't wanna do something, she just has to sit and do nothing else until she's ready to do it. (We say, I'm going to count to 3 and if you're not ready to ______, you will need to sit here until you are ready. Then count to 3 without any extra talking and place her in the aforementioned spot, also without talking.) Takes ALL the fight/stress out of it (except for the picking her up and putting her back in timeout SILENT-Super-Nanny style when she decides to test the timeout boundaries periodically) and does not last longer than if we were fighting it out.
ReplyDeleteWith a willful boy especially, there would be a brief period where it's way worse at first, but you should see results quickly with a week or so of sticking with it. (With O she held out 45 minutes the first time and 15 minutes the second time, but now does it before we reach the count of 3 about 90% of the time and with just a 2-3 minute delay on the other occasions.) Of course, any attempt at something like this is 10x harder if you are in a situation with 1 parent and 2 or more kids. (I would probably be a freaking mess in that case.) But if this sounds appealing at all, let me know and I can give you a more thorough breakdown.
Hi Carrie-
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this as it brought back many sweet and funny memories of when my oldest was little. She resisted EVERYTHING and it drove me crazy always having to hold her down or practically sit on her to get her in her car seat or crib or high chair. Now all I can do is smile at the memories as being that way is just the way she was and still is. She did grow up to be one great kid that I am very proud of. My younger daughter was my little angel and still is - never fought me at all.
I was sorry I missed talking to you after the workshop on Saturday. I feel blessed that we have such a great group of bloggers in the area and can meet up every month. I am looking forward to the next one - on video. I am going are you? I have been seeing your tweets about Haven. I am going and haven't made my flight arrangements yet, maybe we can get on the same flight.
My best- Diane
Don't know if this helps, but my daughter was the same way-especially with car seats!!! It turns out that we found out later that she has sensory integration issues (she had to go to OT to help us help her), and that was her way of telling us she couldn't stand being touched in a certain way, or pinned down. Plus it doesn't help that she too is stubborn just by nature. I remember sweating profusely many times. I know you probably have heard this, but it will pass..be patient, as I can tell you are-you seem like a great mother! Good luck with the Hulk!!! :0)
ReplyDeleteMy son is the same way and he is 18mths... my son really likes music so when we are in one of those moments i used to sing his favorite songs to him like 'itsy bitsy spider" but then he got bored of that so I ask him to sing to me even though he cant really sing he hums to me and that keeps him distracted most of the time. Good Luck
ReplyDeleteMy boys were a handful as well. My older, the daredevil. My younger, the weightlifter. Just pad one of your rooms and it will all be okay!
ReplyDelete