Sounds like a normal kid to me. All kids at one time or another will see how far they can go. And at age 2 it seems worst, that is why it is called the "terrible twos".

When my ss use to come over for the summer he always missed the first boat ride with his dad, because he didn't do what he was told and always had an attitude. The kids always got rewards when they were good. We really didn't deal out punishments just rewards. But if they misbehaved they didn't get a reward, while the other one did. Boy did they change their behavior right fast.

And at one stage of my dd life, it seem like all she got was time-outs.

Frustrated or not, I can relate to everything you said in your post.

Spanking won't solve your problem...I'm sensing things here that could even be made worse by spanking. And overtired is a possibility, but it sounds like a quick, intelligent mind.

And the yelling? Yup...Last week, during a very frustrating day where she and DS were constantly fighting, whining, she was into everything, telling me no when I would tell her to do something or not to do something. She started playing on the floor next to me and said, "Mommy, I don't like it when you yell at me."

I have such good kids, but when the horns pop out, they are different creatures. And then I become one, too!

I'm not sure about the naps. Diva is so tired at night when daddy gets home and she's so whiny by then if she doesn't get the nap. I'd rather she be rested and fun to be around when he gets home.

I do agree w/your dh about getting him to bed earlier (you need that break, too). Even if he's not tired, he still can lay in bed, talking softly, being read to, etc. I'll bet his body will adjust to the earlier time. I gave Diva melatonin when she was revved up at bedtime, waking at 3am (Dreamerz has some in a chocolate form), and now her body tells her when to sleep and it's so much easier. She now tells me, "Mommy, I'm tired." and will go sit on the bed looking at books if I'm wrapping things up.

We know you love your kids, we know they are great kids. But they are kids....as I type this, my 8 year old is once again being rude to his little sister....she's interfering, putting snakes into his "movie" he's doing of dinosaurs, and he's acting like the temperamental director.

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I just noticed that this post was revived and I had to follow up. Things have been much better. I think little ds was having a hard time adjusting to school being out and having his big brother around all day every day. He loves him more than anything, but he just behaves so much better when he is alone with me! After a couple of weeks of getting used to summer schedule and a shortened nap time (I have only been letting him sleep for about an hour) and a nice family vacation with tons of daddy and grandparent time, he is being very sweet these days. I have made lots of effort to spend time with each of the boys individually - like I will take the 2 year old to the grocery store and leave the 7 year old with my dh and the 2 year old is an angel. If I try to take both of them they argue and the 2 year old is so naughty. They love each other, but they need a break from each other too! He has been missing school and his little friends, and he goes to camp there next week and is very excited. He has also been to a few birthday parties (his whole class is turning 3 this summer) and has thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone and doing something special that doesn't involve his brother.

We have also been spending time at the pool every day which he loves and it is a great way to wear both of the boys out. He still has fits and some days are worse than others, but nothing too crazy. My dh came up with a punishment that seems to be working beautifully. I never would have thought he was old enough to understand the whole taking toys away concept, but he is. If he whacks his brother with a car or something, he gets one warning. If he does it again, he loses the toy. He is actually apologizing to us for whatever he does and he "gets" it!

So I hope I am not jinxing myself for giving this good report.

Thanks folks. I just came off of a very trying day with my son.
It is nice when I can feel like this is normal and everyone goes through it in one way or another.

I re-read the original post with interest. I noticed something new. I really have to admire your 3-yr old for being able to stand up to his much older brother. Usually preschoolers are ga-ga over an older, same gender sibling but your little one knows how to hold his own. That's a quality that will serve him well as he gets older.

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