Thursday, November 20, 2008

Toddler OCD at its Finest

This week for Mama Kat's Writing Prompt, I chose #4) Write about something that bothered you this week.

While I hate to dwell in the negative... in some ways that is what this blog is for. A place where I can vent about whatever I want. And I so hate to imply that my kids bother me in any way - but to be real - there are some days and some weeks when their behaviours are quite bothersome.

This week, my 3 year old little man has just about gone off the deep end with his demands and specifics.

He is specific about *everything*

Everytime we come home he absolutely MUST walk through the rocks to the back door. If he is unable to walk through the rocks there is a huge fit and hysterics until he is taken back outside and let to walk through the rocks to the back door. Everytime we leave the house he absolutely MUST spin the lock at least twice.

As I was starting this post, there was a huge meltdown because I, while putting some goldfish in a bowl for him (his lightning mcqueen bowl of course), spilled a couple of goldfish on the table. I picked them up and put them in the bowl. However, I overlooked two little goldfish crumbs that had also spilled out. "Put them back in the bowl mommy, put them back in the bowl!" I picked up the minuscule crumbs and put them in the bowl.

Today has been one of the worst days. Everything has had to be just so. His pears (which were really apples, but if he eats them, who cares what he calls them) had to be on his plate in a certain way. He had to have a plate, not a bowl, for his cereal this morning. He whined all day to watch a movie that I could not understand and that he could not point to. Nothing else would do. Everything else I tried to put in was met with "turn it off mommy, turn it off. turn it off mommy, turn it off" until I turned off the offensive movie.

He is out of sorts today because we ran out of the blue gatorade. The red will just not do. Not at all. Neither will Sunny D or milk or juice. Nothing but the blue gatorade will he drink.

He was out of sorts yesterday because we could not find his lightning mcqueen shoes. He screamed and cried both times we had to leave the house and would not put on the Thomas the Train shoes. It had to be the lightning mcqueen shoes, but lightning mcqueen was no where to be found. I found out where he hid them last night - too late to save the drama.

Huge meltdown last night at bedtime because I kissed him. Just before I kissed him he put his hands up to cover his lips and I (unknowingly as it was dark) managed to kiss his hands. So when his wails of "wipe it off mom wipe it off! wipe that kiss off" resulted in my wiping his cheeks instead of his hands.... lets just say I finally wiped the kiss of both of his hands.

Everynight before bed, all of his toys have to be put away. If he spies a toy amiss on his way to bed he insists that I put his toy into the toybox. If there happens to be a toy in the bedroom: "take it mom, take it" and it must go to the toybox.

It seems like all of a sudden over the past couple of weeks, things that are out of place are a complete and total disruption for him. And it is a complete and total meltdown until things are put back in their place properly.

Please tell me this is just a phase.

13 comments:

Rachel said...

Woah...OCD in the house!!
Love tries this sometimes but I give her a choice "either have this or nothing". She sometimes takes the this and sometimes chooses nothing. Give them their space but don't let them rule your house...It's tough though!

Kelly said...

Sorry, I cannot be of much help with this situation. my daughter is 2 and has a slight case of OCD! She is already a better housekeeper than I am! Oh well, just chalk it up to a crabby couple of days! I hope it gets better and we (as in your bloggy friends) are always here to listen!

Unknown said...

Oh my...I'm going to have to say that this doesn't sound like something he'll grow out of...rather something that will keep growing. Have you talked to your pediatrician?

I am thankful I don't have kids like this...I am too flighty and we would live in constant hysterics.

Becky said...

Has he started any thing new in the last 3-6 months? Daycare, preschool, new babysitter? Sounds like he feels like he needs to control all the little things because he may feel like he has lost control of a big thing. I would go ahead and let him pitch a fit about something so he realizes he will not die if he doesn't get his way all the time. When he starts screaming and crying just try to ignore it until he can talk to you in a calm voice.

Sometimes my kids get cranky the week before the come down with a bad cold. Maybe somethings brewin'.

April said...

I agree with Becky. He might be feeling like he lost control of something and it's freaking him out. Good luck!

Jen said...

My kids, so far, have not done anything like this. I would say that yes its just a phase.

Anonymous said...

Poor you. Is this what I have to look forward to in a couple of years when my child is a toddle? Oh no!

jen said...

yes and no.
could this be a phase? absolutely.
in that case ... i would tend to introduce potential "issues" and teach him how to solve them.
examples...
-- spill something, "uh,oh mommy spilled ... uh,oh ... clean up clean up ... help mommy?"
-- put it in a "wrong cup" and comment ... "silly mama! mommy put it in the silly cup. what should mommy do??"
-- maybe do an experiment with colors. let him add food coloring to stuff to show him that it can be lots of colors.
-- if there is a toy out of place ... be silly and say, "where should mommy put it? on the table?? on the floor?? on the fan?? oh, mommy can't do it ... can you help?"
these types of tendencies to need things in order ... can sometimes be indicative of something else. if it continues.
be the good mommy that you are, and just continue to be aware of him so that you can contact your dr. if you continue to have concerns. and remember ... google does not count. that will only make you feel more confused.
hope these suggestions help. i have definitely noticed with my daughter that when i give her options, and control in her life ... she tends to ease up about specifics. let me know if you have anymore questions. i'll see if i can help.

LazyCrazyMama said...

@ Rachel: Great advice! :) I really need to do that.

@ Kelly: LOL!! And thanks! :) You guys are some really great bloggy friends!!

@ Dawn: :) Yes, be thankful ;)

@ Becky: That is also some great advice. He did wake up yesterday with pink eye, and is now getting baby girls cold! :( And as far as changes go... maybe I will just post about that today instead of making a big long comment ;)

@ April: could very well be so!

@ Jen: Lucky ;) I so hope its a phase!

@ landofennui: LOL I hope not for your sake

@ Jen: OMG! That is some wonderful stuff there!! You are amazing!

Anonymous said...

Yup, sounds like a toddler!

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm....most of this is normal, but putting the toys away on his own!? I hope my kids are like that!!!!!!!

Sandra said...

I will not even put my two cents in.

I'm not the 'patient' kind of mommy that many seem to be on here.

I'm kinda hard core... it's my way or the highway type.

I never gave in to tantrums, I let them go and scream and holler until they tired, then I spoke to my 3 boys. When they demanded stuff... I wouldn't do it unless I was asked respectfully. Yes, even from a young age.

I'm not 'popular' in doing that... like I said... I'm a no nonsense kind of Mama.

I'm sure any one of the other rememdies will help you.

KatBouska said...

All kids like to have a little bit of control. He sounds like he wants to be in charge of his space and everything that goes on in his space...it's all he's got after all. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions...but I certainly can see that getting exhausting to deal with all the time!!!

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