Here are a few things I know about my three-year-old daughter:
1. The type of day she will have can be judged by how crazy her hair is when she wakes up in the morning. For instance, if I see this mop, I know it’s going to be a rough day…for everyone:
2. She has been described as a “free spirit” in dance class (read: has no need for the dance teacher and makes up her own dances). And while she isn’t the best listener when she should be tap, tap, perching, she makes a tutu look good:
3. When it comes to standoffs with her, they are often epic, one sided, and hard fought. I’m talking full on, code red, hide yo’ wife, hide yo’ kids meltdowns. And even though I pull out my Mommy-bag-o’-tricks, she can break me by 9AM. And while I thought age two brought some interesting “quirks”, I was not fully prepared for the tantrums of a three year old.
Most days I can handle the tantrums, and I’ve learned what does and doesn’t work for her
- Stern Mommy voice works.
- Idle threats do not.
- Bribary works sometimes but the spoils must be worth her while.
- Negotiating is worthless
- Tantrums are always worse when she is tired or we have to get out the door in hurry
Because we all want a happier house, I’m learning that the best offense is a good defense. So I’m looking for ways to make life in this house a little more peaceful.
There is no doubt in my mind it that it truly takes a village to raise a baby; however, I really think that village is for us as moms, not just our kids. So I’m so glad to have found MomAssembly and to have them as part of my village.
We’ve all been to tons of parenting websites, right? And I’m sure your searches were the same as mine: some good info, some bad info, some REALLY bad info, and lots information from people that have no idea what they’re talking about. However, at MomAssembly, I have access to over 70 hours of expert parenting videos taught by nationally-renowned experts. When I was checking out the videos on preschoolers, the newborn and infant videos covered so many topics like sleep solutions and feedings that would have been really helpful when I was a new mom. They even have videos just about our health and well being, because if no on takes care of mom, this ship is going down!
Because my house is a madhouse, I can watch videos on my computer, notebook, or my phone and can switch back and forth because the video player always starts where I left off, not matter what device I’m using. Don’t you just love when technology just makes your life easier?
When I saw a course called Parenting Without Power Struggles: Raising Children Without Bribes, Threats, and Negotiations or Meltdowns, I assumed they created this course just for me. Turns out, lots of moms are in the same boat. I LOVE the ideas I’ve learned in this course and already it’s making a difference in how we deal with tantrums. Here is a clip from part of the course:
The ladies behind MomAssembly have really created something special here, friends. Jill Spivack and Jennifer Waldburger have nearly two decades of experience as family and parent educators. They are the co-founders of Sleepy Planet Parenting in Los Angeles, where they offer guidance, support and community to help moms address the entire constellation of parenting interests, including everything from sleep, feeding, and child development to sibling issues, marriage and refining one’s individual parenting philosophy
So listen, mom, join this village and let MomAssembly help you. For only $7.99/month or $3.99/month the whole year, you’ll have over 500 classes and over 50 downloadable handouts & workbooks at your fingertips. And you can add up to 4 family members and caregivers to your account for free. Not sure you can commit? That’s cool, because both options come with a 7 day free trial. Most videos are under 10 minutes, so take that ten minutes to hide from the kids, maybe drink your reheated coffee and get some great tips for surviving this motherhood gig.
How about trying out MomAssembly for a month for FREE? My first ten readers who sign up will get a month trial for free.
Click here to sign up
*Please note that you actually have to sign up for a plan and enter your credit card – but the card will NOT be charged until the end of your free trial. You will receive an email from Jill or Jennifer notifying you that you are the winner!*
While I was compensated for this post BELIEVE me, I can use all the help I can get raising my kids and all opinions are my own!
My kids challenge me on a daily basis. No one ever told me it would be this hard.
My kids do drive me crazy often,but the good days outweigh the bad.Its all worth it 🙂
Parenting children is hard. There’s a fine line between keeping them on the straight and narrow and being unreasonable. I have a 14 year old son, and trust me, it’s a struggle. It all pays off in the long run, though.
This parenting stuff sure ain’t easy! Kids can really be difficult at times.
Out of all the kids they each challenge me one way or another. And just when I think I’ve got them figured out, they throw me for a loop and change the rules of the game. Parenting is always so much fun.
I need to check this out. My son will be 3 in one month and ohmygosh. I do not know how we are going to survive the whining and tantrums. (And that’s mostly just me.)
Raising kids is a daily struggle. I always worry that I’m doing the right thing, and that worry never leaves. I think that’s good though. It keeps me vigilant about making the right choices for my little sweetheart.
Kids especially toddlers just seem to have a mind of their own. My own 2 year old just does whatever she wants when she wants. I need to check out mom assembly, might be just what I need.
OMG! Those pictures remind me exactly of my daughter when she was little! She’s 22 now and, trust me, it’s all okay 🙂
She looks so cute in her ballet outfit. That’s a great idea for a website!
When things don’t go our way, we get frustrated. Whether with kids or adults. Kids are just trying to learn. As they grow they tune into emotions, thoughts and feeling that weren’t there before. Their cognitive ability grows. They act out because it’s all they know. It’s our job to teach them otherwise.
LOL at knowing how your daughter’s day will be, according to how her hair looks in the morning! That is priceless!! Love!
This Sounds Great I Can Use All The Help I Can Get I Must Check This Out Thank You!
What a great idea. My son is at sleep away camp so there have been far fewer struggles here. I am laying down the law when he returns though, I cannot be talked back to at his age anymore!
MomAssembly sounds great. I wish it would have been available 24 years ago.
I could definitely use some classes. Thanks for the heads up on this program!
Very interesting… I too have a ‘spirited’ child… I learned that reward charts help a lot with her. I will have to check out MomAssembly… thanks for sharing.
Your daughter sounds just like mine. Rewards worked, yelling didn’t. And you could judge her mood by how she woke up in the morning. Haha.
Your daughter sounds just like my kids. They can be a challenge, it’s how you act and react to them that makes a difference.
Love the pics of your daughter! She looks like she is a lot of “fun”. Mom Assembly sounds great, I am going to check it out
Tantrum are a problem. I just learned steady and consistant.
MomAssembly sounds like a great resource! Great for parents at all stages and I love how reasonably priced it is.
I’m pretty much beyond those years, but this would be fabulous for my niece. I’m going to clue her in so she can have a support system. Thanks!
My kids challenge me but I am learning as I go. Great post and great tips.
All three of my kids challenge me. It’s ok though….that’s a part of growing up. I just wish it was a little less tiring at times.
I could have used these tips this afternoon. Don’t know whether it’s funny or sad that your advice for dealing with toddlers would have been appropriate for my tween today. 🙂
I am a single mother with 2 teens. I like the teen years better and find it much easier to parent.
I work the stern mommy voice. My stern mommy voice seems to work better than daddy yelling.
This sounds great! What I learned with 2 kids is that the same thing doesn’t ever work on both of them. 🙂
I have a 3 year old with a free spirit also. Some days I wonder if she is going to drive me crazy! LOL
I love your humor, {your website layout too… love love love}. My 5 year old is also that tantrum girl. I read a book a while ago, “You Can’t Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded): Strategies for Bringing Out the Best in Your Strong-Willed Child” by Cynthia Tobias. It is amazing. My LO will have a tantrum just to tantrum. I will ask her, do you want to go outside or stay inside… and she will refuse to chose and throw a tantrum. Being tired is a huge factor.
My daughter is almost 17 and I swear, some days she wakes up with the goal of driving me crazy. Ah, these are some rough years!
Mom Assembly sounds great. Passing the info. along to my daughter-in-law (emailing her this link).
That first photo is just priceless. She looks awesome. I really think kids totally sense when we’re tired and cranky too, which sets them off. It’s a lose-lose. I love when we are all well rested and happy.
What a great resource! Tantrums are definitely worse and more frequent if kids are tired!
This is a great resource thank you for sharing! Love the first picture – too cute!
MomAssembly sounds like a wonderful resource for parents! And yes, your daughter definitely makes a tutu look great!
Thanks for sharing – I’ll have to check it out! Raising toddler twins right now is a challenge I have accepted with full body armor at this point! 😀
Wow, what huge video resource! I love being able to pick up some new tricks!
We are going through that with both kids right now! Idle threats are so pointless- but they still happen.
Love her hair – some mornings my hair looks just about the same – those are nights when I toss and turn all not – not getting good sleep.
Well I’m not a mom as yet, but it’s good to know that there is help available to me when and if I do decide to have a mini me. 🙂
Ohhh I have never heard of MomAssembly. I’ll have to pass this on and check it out for myself. I do know that consistency seems to be a key with parenting.
This is great. It’s nice to have advice from moms who have been there and experts in parenting.
How great! Yes, my daughter went through the same thing when she as 3! And I agree, the messier the hair, the worse of day LOL!
She is so adorable! I love her little tutu.
HAHAHA! You are soo right about the messy hair correlation. Awesome!
I’ve never heard of this site before. I do like visiting sites like Mom Assembly because someone you will experience something that a ton of other mom’s have already went through. It helps get answers and sometimes helps relieve the stress and ease those scary situations.
This looks like something I could have definitely used when my kids were little. Great deal too.
It is so hard being a parents. I love to find parenting resources that encourage and help you feel like you are doing a better job 🙂
My kids are all in their late 20’s, your little one looks like she could cause some trouble 🙂 My daughter is due in September, will have to star this page.
I know that hair! My youngest wakes up with that mess more quite a bit. What is worse, is that she wants to fix it herself. She always ignores the back, and then gets annoyed when I show her the areas that she has missed.
I love the post! The pics are so cute! I agree that the Mom voice works.
We have a VERY very “emotional” 1 1/2 year old…his melt downs are like nothing I have ever experienced in my life! Perhaps this is for me!