Who knew that a 2 year-old could be "sassy?"

My hubby and I are exceptionally tired today, we went to a small town festival last night with my parents and my brother and his family...nothing like loading your grandchildren up with cotton candy at 9pm...so needless to say, our jelly-bean went to bed at 10:30pm and got up at the crack of dawn...YAWN!

I am beginning to understand the more tired your child is, the more sassy they can be, or maybe it is that I am just more irritable?

My daughter was just looking to get into everything today. She would look at me and say "Mama, ok?" while she tilted her cute little head, raised her eyebrows, grinned that sweet grin and nodded yes before getting into something, but as I would snap out of my sleepy daze and say "No, that is not a safe choice." (Words from daycare) she would break-down into tears. And so we would redirect her to something else.

Her daycare teachers have provided us with many good words, "I can't understand you when you whine, please use your words." or "No thank you!" And they have even taught my daughter some too, "My turn." "No, stop." and "Walk away."

Who knew that day would come when those words would come back to haunt us!?

Our little dare-devil thought it would be funny to get up on her toy table today, and when we said, "No thank you, that is not a safe choice...feet on the floor." She turned to me and said, "No, Mama you stop! Walk away!" "Walk away Mama!" I didn't know whether to crack up laughing or break-down and cry. I seemingly chose the straight face, but where did the sass come from? Who knew a 25 month old could be sassy, and why didn't I get the memo? Does she understand what she is doing? I simply said "I don't like your tone, you do not ask Mama to walk away." and after I got more sass, I put her into a time-out.

How have you dealt with this type of situation?

Cheese with that Whine?

Ahhh, the sound of wine, it is so...unnerving! No, not wine, whine! But a little whine makes me want some wine!

My daughter has started this whining thing a couple weeks ago, but over the past couple days she has been sick and boy did it ever exacerbate! So, I am at my wits end and pulled out my "Everything about your toddler" book. Go to the index and find "whining." As I find the page I see at the top 24 months, silly me, if only I read that section a week ago!

They begin the chapter with whining sounds like nails on a chalk board, ahhh, yes, that is it! As I read on, it said whining is normal for toddlers and it is worsened with hunger, tiredness, sickness (bingo), boredom, and lack of attention. And when they aren't whining...that is the other 5% of the time. (sarcasm towards the book) It gave me a chuckle. Anyways, so you are wondering how it can be alleviated...

1. Feed the toddler
2. Help the toddler get rest
3. Coddle your toddler and help her/him feel better
4. Give them a game to play
5. Take a break from what you are doing and play with them.
6. Distract them
7. Help them find the right words
8. Make whining a game. (ex. Where is that sound coming from...(look under the couch, behind the tv, and then check inside their mouth...then proceed to ask if it needs a tune-up and tickle them.) Little strange, but hey I will try annnyyyythinnnggg!

By the way, this was a short summary of the 3 full pages on this subject. Sounds like something I can try...I will keep you updated on our progress.