Another famous saying… the terrible 2’s. “My child is in the terrible two’s stage!”
What does this mean exactly? What does a child at two years old look like? Why do we call it the terrible two’s?
Most likely this is claimed because of the child becoming testy. The child is starting to expand their boundaries. The child wants what he wants at that moment. The child may have excessive crying or fussing moments. Lots of discipline starts happening at this stage.
But why, as parents, do we claim the stage so negative? I have strong convictions about the power of our words. If we knew the power and the effect our words had in the spiritual realm, I think we’d all think twice about what we say.
I understand, I understand it all. I have four children that have gone through that stage in the last six years. One of them is going through this stage right now.
It’s tough. Disciplining consistently is so hard because you can feel like you’re not getting anywhere. It’s tough standing your ground EVERY SINGLE TIME when the child around you is having a train wreck. It’s tough when you want to lock yourself in a room and just cry yourself to sleep. It’s tough, and can seem “terrible” in each of those moments.
Instead, lets change the wording a bit. Let’s change that terrible into TRAINING. This child is in the training stage. This child needs you to train him into the way he should go.
Train him in what he can and cannot do. Train him in what he can and cannot touch. Train him in what he can and cannot say.
Change that negative word into a positive reinforcement into your child. Speak life over your child. Most likely, the more negative you are speaking of your child, the more negative things will become. Our words have incredible power.
This stage involves a lot of work. But the work is WORTH IT all! You will get through this season. Hang in there, be consistent and stay positive! You will start seeing fruit from the energy you are pouring forth into this child. Don’t give up.
Again, let’s watch our words and set the example to our younger ones. Speaking forth the positive words rather than the negative. Let’s call it the TRAINING 2’s instead of the Terrible 2’s!
Here are my two tips on successful parenting that might help you also. Plus I found a great article on how to parent strong-willed children.
Share your thoughts on this in the comments!
I love this!!! God has been ministering to me about this same exact thing. I’m glad someone wrote about it. Great post!
Thanks, Melissa! It really is encouraging to know others have the same perspective!
I needed to read this post. While I’m a mother of four, I have soon to be two year old who is strong willed. With that, I never thought of this stage as a training stage. What a great perspective on this stage! I never looked at this stage as the “training stage” but I will going forward. I also believe you hit the nail on the head with being consistent.
Thanks Ana. I also have a child coming out of the two’s who is pretty strong willed. I’m seeing how the consistency is paying off!
My little guy is almost two and he does “keep me on my toes” so to speak 🙂 especially with an older sister he loves to follow and watch. But he is learning and listening so much and I can’t imagine calling it terrible….he is learning and we are training! Great perspective!
Yes, a good way of putting it, Ellen, “he is learning and we are training!”
Yes, absolutely, I’ve been saying this to people for ages! So glad you’ve written about it, I’m sharing on facebook! Whenever people would say the Terrible twos to us we would notice an immediate decline in madam’s behaviour, and pray and reinforce positive stuff over her, and if they were people that should have known better we would gently correct them on the spot.
Great to hear you standing up for what you believe in, Lizzy! It really is amazing the power and effect our words can have on people. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
I like your suggestion to call it “training 2s.” I shall use this when my little guy gets to that stage. Calling it that will also retrain my own mind to think more positively about the stage. Thank you!
You’re always positive, Kandra. I couldn’t imagine you even saying the “terrible 2’s”.
YES YES and YESSS!!! so good. I entirely agree. Nothing they do is a personal assault – and our littles are looking for us to teach them what is good, holy, right and true (and how to be pleasant to be around!) It’s exhausting, but like you said, standing our ground and being 100% consistent is the key – results have actually seemed to follow quickly when I don’t lose my resolve (or refuse to get off the couch haha!) Thanks for this 🙂
Your right, Vanessa, we are to “teach them what is good, holy, right and true.” We are to teach them that through our words and actions. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this!
LOVE this! I’ve heard people say it’s really terrible 2’s, then terrible 3’s, and so on. Although, I believe we should focus on correcting the behavior instead of just accepting that our life is miserable from here on.
Focusing more on correcting the behavior… very good way in putting it, Leigh-Ellen. Thanks for sharing your input!