Well, I guess this post is more of a plea for advice than anything. I've been having the hardest week with Gideon. He turned two in December, so I know part of this is developmental but I am feeling at such a loss over how to handle it. He is much more opinionated than Jasper and when he gets an idea in his head he does not let it go.
Everyday there have been 10+ tantrums or meltdowns. Here's a glimpse at some of the scenarios- He has a coat with a removable hood. I took it off the other day because he wanted to wear his snow hat and I figured if I took the hood off he'd feel less bulkiness around his neck while in his car seat (which he's has a meltdown about in the past). We are leaving the library. He completely FLIPS out because there in no hood on his coat. He's trying, in the midst of screaming and crying, to pull his zipped up coat over his head where his hood should be. I try to pick him up about four times and he does that thing with his body where it's practically impossible to pick him up because he is limp and slippery. Finally I get him in my arms and he's kicking me and hitting me really hard and screaming and flipping himself upside. I almost drop him on his head two times. Jasper is on his bike and riding far ahead and I'm totally worried he's going to get run over or something. We finally make it to the car with everyone alive which I'm thankful for but with a very upset mom and 2 year old.
Another scenario- Gideon is very, very particular his clothes (gosh, all of a sudden it just dawned on me that his tantrums are most often about clothing.... hummmm). So the other day we are trying to get dressed and out the door. Before we leave, Gideon has me change his clothes 8 times. I am not kidding. 8 times! He wants to put on this shirt, and then changes his mind and wants a different shirt, and then changes his mind again, and so on. And then I'll get him all dressed and he's happy but then he sees what Jasper put on and it starts all over again! I try and reason with him each time but he flips out! I don't know what to think. It makes me laugh while I'm writing this, but I feel like I'm going to go insane most mornings.
The other element of this equation is nursing. I am still nursing Gideon but it has been hurting really bad lately (he had a cold last week and I think he was sucking harder than usual). I've had to tell him a few times lately that "I can't nurse you because it hurts mommy". He throws major fits over that too. Crying and screaming and hitting me.
I need some ideas. I need to know how to handle this so I don't end up feeling frustrated with him. I love this kid. He is so, so, so much fun when he's not flipping out. He's funny. He makes me laugh everyday, but I'm not very good at dealing with tantrums and meltdowns especially in public. It's embarrassing.
