About Suzi Expertise I can answer any questions that have to do with raising boys, very `active` twins, little tricks about keeping them out of trouble, picky eaters, and being a stay-at-home parent to multiples and all of the rewards and challenges that pertain to that.
Experience Experience in the areaI am a 24 yr. old stay-at-home parent to three very active boys: a 4 yr. old pre-schooler, and 2 yr. old twins. They keep me on my toes and I have done it all with no help. With all I have been through with my boys, I feel there is nothing I can't handle!
Question Hi Suzi, boy would I like to learn from you! I have 2&1/2 yr. old triplets. Two girls and one boy. My daughter has started having terrible tantrums, when out in public and it's seriously embarrassing, I don't understand why she just started this and although she's a total spitfire with too much energy, she's always managed to control herself up until now. I don't have a place in my house for time-outs, and anyways it always happens in public. Any thoughts? I'm desperate to get her to stop. Also my son has decided that he no longer wants to eat. I can rarely get him to take a bite of rice or maybe a spoon full of peanut butter, and he's sooo tiny to begin with, he's several pounds lighter than his sisters and much shorter. The Dr. just tells me to get him to drink Ovaltine and that kids won't starve themselves, but I don't really like that advice. What worked for you? Thanks in advance, Teresa
Answer Hi Teresa!
First of all, let me apologize for taking a few days to respond to your question. I have had a house full of sickies this week. We have ALL had a round of the flu! YUCK!!
I don't know how much you can learn from me -- as a mom of twins I have caught myself saying, "How do moms of triplets ever do it?!" : ) So maybe I can learn from you!!!
As far as the picky eating goes, I do have some advice from experience. Jeremy and Jordan (twins) have never really been that picky of eaters -- Jeremy is picky as to what he eats, but they always have been pretty big eaters when you give them what they want! Collin (4) on the other hand, was a different story when he was that age. Some days it seemed he hardly ate anything at all, but then he'd go through a growth spurt and eat normal again. Kids are so unpredictable when it comes to eating! But one thing I learned from Collin, is not to stress about it. Since your little guy is tiny, I would make sure that when he does eat, it is something nutricious and preferrably high in calorie content. Does he drink a lot of juice? Sometimes kids drink a lot, and it fills them up so they are not hungry -- especially if they have little tummies to begin with! So if he is drinking a lot, I would try and cut some of that down and see if his eating improves any. As much as you didn't like your doctor's response, he really is right. Kids will eat when they are hungry, and not before. Try not to worry too much about it, Teresa. A friend of mine, who is also a mom of 2 yr old twins, has a little guy that doesn't eat much. She gives him V8-Splash to drink, since it is so high in vitamins. (Just a suggestion)
And about the tantrums -- I just don't know an easy answer for this. Jordan is my difficult guy, who thinks nothing of throwing a drop-down all out tantrum in the middle of the Super Wal-Mart, and I am still learning how to deal with this! (UGH!) Collin was so well behaved, and never broke me in on this one! : ) So I just ignore it, leave him in the cart, and when I get those 'looks' from other shoppers -- my response to them is, "He's 2" Usually I get a "OH! I completely understand!!!" I do think you need to be consistant with time-out at home when she behaves this way. You say that you don't have any where in your house for time-outs -- but it is easy to make a place. I just take a kitchen chair and set them in it, setting the microwave timer for the appropriate amount of minutes, and they know when they hear the 'beep' they can get up. Sometimes Jeremy and Jordan cry the whole time in time-out, but if I let them up because they are crying -- well, they will know that all they have to do is cry to get out of their punishment. So just try to stay consistant. There's not much you can do when you're in public, unless you are willing to leave the place -- which I never am willing to do.
And remember -- life is full of unexpectedness when it comes to raising 2 yr olds! Kudos to you for doing such a great job raising triplets, Mom!!! I would really like to keep in touch -- I have a feeling I could learn a lot from you, Teresa! : )
