Parenting Toddlers (1-3) Support Group

What I found new right around this age were that my little angels had turned into little monsters...lol. Also, the patience that was a gift from God for me had run out and I was asking for more:) Independance really started to kick in for them(I have twins). I have a lot of experience with younger children and I was still beating myself up thinking I was doing something wrong. So, try not to be so hard on yourself. If others are complimenting you on what a good job you are doing, then you must be doing something right:)
I will be happy to give you a quick rundown of our daily routine. I do try to stick to it everyday because I feel very strongly that having the same routine everyday keeps them the most happy and have less of a chance of irritable children. In the am we do the norm get up, change diapers, brush teeth, eat breakfast. They watch Sesame Street and Clifford and then the tv goes off. Then we either go out for a walk, shopping or to the library(all depends on the day and weather). By the time all that is done it's time for lunch, storytime and nap. When they get up from nap we have a snack, then we do some sort of art project(coloring with crayons, finger paints, etc..) Then I try to get them outside again. Then it's dinner time, bath, storytime again and bedtime. Hope this was helpful!

I agree with dawnie that one of the biggest changes was the assertion of independence and will at around 16 months (and maybe a few months before that for mine!). My daughter's 19 months, but it seems like every day her personality comes out more and more, and while overall, she has a sweet disposition and laid-back attitude, she can also be extremely stubborn and willful (I see a lot of myself in her!). She's started having mini-tantrums, where she goes limp or lays on the floor when I take something away from her or tell her she can't do something. I pretty much ignore this behavior, as long as she's not being destructive, so her "tantrums" don't last long now! :)

As for a routine, I say kudos to any mother who can keep her child engaged all day, but I'm just not one of those people! I play with her and pay lots of attention to her and am always there when she wants/needs me, but I also believe in teaching her how to play independently. We wake up around 8 or 8:30 and do the usual clothes changing, breakfast, etc. I turn on the TV to PBS, and she half watches while playing with her toys (she's very "busy"). I play with blocks with her some, or sing and dance with her during the musical parts of the shows, but about half that time I spend getting things done around the house, her "helping" me. She starts calming down around 11 (I'll rock her and sing if she needs help), and then goes down for a nap around 11:30. She NEVER sleeps more than an hour, but then gets up for lunch, "busy" time (I keep plastic containers and her old bottles in a bottom cabinet, so she gets into that a lot), and then some kind of outing after that (park, Target just to look around or buy necessities). Around 4, I feed her a snack and let her watch about Dora and Spongebob for about an hour (half watch again), then dinner and bed by 6:30 (she sleeps a lot at night to make up for the lack of napping, I think). Other things we do: coloring, picking up leaves in the front yard in a bowl, whatever she's into that week! :)

I also have her in Mother's Day Out (preschool) from 9:30-1:30 2 days a week, and that's been a lifesaver! Our library just started an under story time that is on the same day as her preschool, but it's free and is a great idea for other Moms.

Parenting is definitely difficult at times, especially since I still haven't found my daughter's instruction manual! :) Just hang in there!