Talk about the nightmare before Christmas. There’s still two weeks to go and with a toddler in the house I don’t think my nerves can take it.
We’ve had so many tantrums as a direct result of the fact it’s almost Christmas I’ve lost count.
I don’t remember it being like this with BB, but then she didn’t have chocolate advent calendars at aged two and we didn’t have school fayres to contend with, both of which are unavoidable now she’s five.
She was also a summer baby so hadn’t just turned two at Christmas, whereas Little B has just had his second birthday and is therefore in full terrible-twos mode.
Christmas meltdowns only people with toddlers understand
1. Advent calendars. Or more specifically, chocolate advent calendars. How do you explain to a two-year-old that they can only open one door a day? They simply don’t understand there’ll be another chocolate tomorrow. Instead you’re faced with a meltdown to the cries of ‘more chocolate’ Every. Single. Day.
2. Shop windows. I made the grave error of pointing out a mechanical Christmas tree spewing out artificial snow in the window of our local Clintons in a fit of ‘ooo isn’t that festive’. Now we have to stop and look at it every time we pass, and every other shop with a Christmas window display – which is all of them – or risk the consequences. Every. Single. Day.
3. Christmas trees. Trying to explain that you put the decorations on but you don’t take them off is almost as brain-numbingly repetitive as trying to explain the one-chocolate-a-day advent calendar rule. You might as well be talking to a brick wall. Or banging your head against it. I’m seriously considering dangling ours from the ceiling.
4. Christmas presents. Ditto gifts under the tree. I realise piling colourfully wrapped presents with shiny paper and big bows on under a Christmas tree is asking for trouble, but give me strength. ‘Look but don’t touch’ is not a toddler-friendly concept.
5. Christmas fayres. Take the pushchair and you’re hampered by the crowds, unwittingly ramming into the shins of unsuspecting shoppers while the toddler is craning to swipe at table tops and screaming to get out, or ditch the pushchair and risk going on foot, when you still have a toddler craning to swipe at table tops and screaming to get out of your arms instead of the pushchair straps. It’s a no-win situation.
Are meltdowns getting you down this Christmas? If you have any top tips for toddler taming I’d love to hear them!
Linking up with…
Oh, yes, I remember those times, when it was exactly as you describe it! But we’re now 8 and 9 and it became so much easier. Just wait and see, it will happen in no time!;) #bestandworst
Yep I hear ya. I was dreading putting up the tree because I thought the kids would be a nightmare with it like they were last year but they haven’t been too bad. I’ve only had to shout at them 3 or 4 times a day although admittedly one is in school for 6 hours of the day so that helps. They also keep trying to sneak the advent calenders when I’m not looking.
#bestandworst
We have actually been ok touch wood but my daughter is 3. I had some bad behaviour which I could use the advent calendar for – you have lost your chocolate for ignoring me! Oops. Fun and games eh? Thanks for sharing with #bestanworst x
Kids get overwhelmed at the best of times never mind christmas.
I didn’t bother with an advent calendar because I knew there was no way my 18-month-old would get the concept of one chocolate a day! She is fascinated with Christmas trees, and I’m sure it won’t be long before she’s pulling the baubles off of ours! #ablogginggoodtime
Oh my goodness we were so here last year! Needless to say I’m enjoying this xmas with a 3 year old far more…yes really! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely x
Is it wrong that I have a slight smirk whilst reading this as my toddler days are well and truly over. Sorry! Don;t worry hun they only start arguing over other things like how long they can be on the iPad – come on it is christmas! Thank you for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime
I feel those struggles, although the calendar one not so much anymore, luckily she doesnt have that much of a sweet tooth! #ablogginggoodtime
I’ve found that not mentioning the advent calendar has worked wonders for me. Henry won’t get in the car? its ok, I have a ready prepared little chocolate to hand. Henry won’t give me back the iPad? Ooooo what’s mummy got? another little magical chocolate of course. Henry won’t let me change his bottom? Ta….da – you’ve guessed it, another little chocolate. Mummy has had a totally shit day at work? well thats what Day 8 is for. For me of course x #bestandworst x
My life! The Toddler just hit 2 recently. Toddlers are not Christmas friendly. Unless it’s time for chocolate and madness! #TheList xx
Hehe my 2 year old seems to dislike the toddler chocolate, so at least we’re spared that trauma, but yes to everything else! Christmas fayres and markets with a little one in tow are hard work! #TheListLinky
Haha yes, the advent calendar has been a huge issue here. Harry screamed blue murder because he didn’t want just one and the minute I turned my back he destroyed the calendar and ate every last chocolate. Now he screams every morning because he doesn’t have a calendar. Agghhh! #TheListLinky
The mouse is deffo in full swing of terrible twos this Christmas – we are avoiding shops like the plague from here on!!
#coolmumclub
So true, I’m glad I did my shopping early so I don’t have to faff around now x #ablogginggoodtime
Oh yes! All of the above! Pointing out Xmas lights everywhere we go, wanting to look at all Xmas lights, advent, tree, screaming, stomping of feet. I feel your pain! #KCACOLS
I cannot tell you how many ornaments met their death this year with the twin toddlers.
Oh tis the season for toddler freak outs!
#KCACOLS
Aargh the advent calender….. try to get them to understand that they only get one a day. Putting the Christmas tree up sent me crazy – put the bourbals on the toddler makes them off .aargh #thelist
I think the problem is that stores and adverts start prepping for Christmas in mid November. To a small child 6 weeks is a horrendously long time to have to wait for something that they are excited for #KCACOLS
I would HATE getting only one a day and I’m an adult.
Look what toddlers want is what dogs want to be crude.
They want a doggy choc, a play and someone to ruffle their fur now and again.
Forget advent calendar (kids don’t get religion even the perks) and reward toddler with choc button once they’ve listened to you, sat quietly for 10 seconds, or whatever.
I don’t have a dog or a toddler but I bet this will work.
Let me know if you try it. A sort of canine Gina Ford. I’ll go 50% with you on books and merchandising. Jo #KCACOLS
I haven’t reached this stage yet but I am already dreading it! My 11 month old is already at the tree! #KCACOLS
Sing it! Don’t TALK to be about Advent calendars. We haven’t bothered this year because I just can’t handle the drama! #KCACOLS
When my first son was a toddler we only had a non-chocolate advent calendar to avoid the stress! #KCACOLS
Fabulous post! A funny one about xmas, love it! so different. It is our first one with our baby and he is too small so I won’t have any other examples to give you but I am sure others will have plenty. And why having one chocolate only? I would want more too! Good luck with the window every day, maybe the little one will get bored of it at some point? You can hope… Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday.
Yikes. LOL I haven’t had toddlers for years but i think I blocked anything like that out! #KCACOLS
No tips but I can definitely relate to all of this -apart from the Christmas fayres bit -I just cant be bothered with the faff! my son is 3 and understands the chocolate advent a bit more this year – there is hope for you yet haha. he tries it on each morning but he knows he gets another the next day now so he soon gives up trying to get anymore chocolate! #KCACOLS
Thankfully I am well past the terrible twos. I do not envy those of you with little ones. I hope the tantrums are few and far between and you have a wonderful Christmas.
#KCACOLS
Hehe yes this is so far my December! I swear my terrible two turned even more terrible since the start of December and I am not sure I will make it to christmas! #TheListLinky
I sympathise with toddlers over the advent calendar concept… as a toddler myself I enjoyed polishing off all my brother’s chocolates when nobody was looking. When else are you only allowed one chocolate out of the box per day?! #kcacols
I have had each and every one of these happen on nearly a daily basis already this year. Only 13 days left! #KCACOLS
Haha yes!! Story of my life! The Christmas tree decorations drive me crazy! They just want to take them on and off all day, but with such force that the tree wobbles! #KCACOLS
Aww it’s tough being a toddler mama at Christmas!I didn’t even get my boy an adventure calendar this year because I couldn’t cope with the tantrums again (and I may have forgot!)xx #coolmumclub
Our 2 year old has suddenly realised he’s a toddler and is very grumpy lately. Christmas certainly brings a whole new load of tantrum possibilities! I’m quite looking forward to the peace of January! #TheList
Touch wood, I’ve been lucky so far and neither of my two have been bothered about taking the decorations off the tree. I have had to explain to my 2 year old every day about the advent calendar though. And as far as presents go, we tend to keep them hidden away until Christmas day, it’s just too tempting otherwise for little hands to fiddle with them! x #KCACOLS