I need to stop using this term but it fits his behavior lately. I’ll give you an example (this happened yesterday):
Me: Let’s have mac and cheese for lunch.
Monkey: I don’t WANT mac and cheese!
Me: Well, it’s that or Peanut Butter and Jelly.
Monkey: I don’t WANT Peanut Butter and Jelly!
Me: Okay, mac and cheese then.
Monkey: I don’t WANT mac and cheese.
Me: Well, we’re having mac and cheese.
Monkey (still in the same upset tone): I WANT mac and cheese.
Me: You want mac and cheese?
Monkey: I don’t WANT mac and cheese.
Me: You don’t want mac and cheese?
Monkey: I WANT mac and cheese.
Me: Okay then, we’re having mac and cheese.
Monkey (still upset): OKAY!
Does this happen to any of you who have toddlers? This happens a LOT with different things, not just meals. Going to the grocery store or playing with X toy instead of Y. It’s starting to bother me and I’m wondering if it’s normal. Need to do some research.
Aria does this, but I’ve found if I give her 2-3 choices for whatever right up front, she’ll be able to pick one. If I just tell her one thing up front, then it’s met with resistance, and the follow-up options are as well.
We get that when Sasha isn’t exactly paying attention to what I’m saying and is just responding with moodiness.
I find what helps is to say something goofy that will grab his attention.
For example, I will say we’re eating hippos for lunch. He’ll start laughing and then the random moodiness goes away and he’ll ask what’s really going on.
Thanks for the advice guys and gals! I’ve already tried both the multiple questions and the “hippo” one. And for a moment, I think he actually thought we were eating hippos! HEHE!
We used to have a lot of this about EVERYTHING. We still have some, but mostly she seems to be moving out of that stage. We did both things the others have mentioned. Good luck!