"Spirited" Children

DS's pedi today said that he's spirited and extremely temperamental. I thought he was just a normal 20 month old. I thought all kids his age were as terrible as he's been lately. His doctor looked at me with the most pitiful look and even hugged me before he left. The past 3 times he's seen me I've been crying, so he probably thinks I'm crazy (he told me I should see about medication I can take during this pregnancy for stress. Wtf). I am stressed out, and I'm extremely emotional, but I thought that was normal too. I work full time, I go to school full time, I do all the house work by myself and my husband and I are never home at the same time. Of course I'm stressed out. I can't remember the last time I relaxed.

Anyway, he said he thinks we're going to have a very hard time with DS growing up and we're going to have to go about raising him differently than most kids. Traditional forms of discipline won't work, etc. He's speech delayed, extremely texture oriented and everything is the end of the world to him. If you do anything he doesn't like, no matter how small he screams like you shot his dog. I thought all kids were like that but I've never actually been around any other babies or toddlers so I have nothing to compare to. Has anyone else been told they have a spirited child? I feel like half the people in his life are trying to say there's something wrong with him and the other half are throwing a fit if anyone even mentions something quirky about him. I just want him to be my baby. I'm tired of all these people judging him. This post is every where, I know. I'm every where today and just needed to get it out.

You should read the book "Raising your Spirited Child" I found it pretty helpful for my kids

It depends upon your definition of "spirited". My eldest daughter is a very bubbly, imaginative, garrulous, extremely happy, "high spirited" little five-year-old. She's not ill-tempered at all.

Quoting Alissa McKeighan:" It depends upon your definition of "spirited". My eldest daughter is a very bubbly, imaginative, garrulous, extremely happy, "high spirited" little five-year-old. She's not ill-tempered at all."

The medical definition of spirited child. Also called difficult children. His pedi specifically said a spirited child does not mean happy go lucky, it's just a nice way of saying hard to handle.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Reise's Mommy:</b>" The medical definition of spirited child. Also called difficult children. His pedi specifically said a spirited child does not mean happy go lucky, it's just a nice way of saying hard to handle."</blockquote>


I wasn't aware that that was a medical definition. I've never heard the term used in that manner before. Thanks for the enlightenment!

That's exactly how my 2 year old is. I never knew if it was normal or not either. He doesn't listen at all, he is always throwing fits, and he is also speech delayed. It's extremely stressful. On top of that he has a horrible sleep schedule.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Alissa McKeighan:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting Reise's Mommy:</b>" The medical definition of spirited child. ... [snip!] ... aware that that was a medical definition. I've never heard the term used in that manner before. Thanks for the enlightenment!"</blockquote>
I wasn't either. He had to explain it to me.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Queen Bitch♥:</b>" That's exactly how my 2 year old is. I never knew if it was normal or not either. He doesn't listen at ... [snip!] ... always throwing fits, and he is also speech delayed. It's extremely stressful. On top of that he has a horrible sleep schedule."</blockquote>

My mom always says he's just in his terrible two's and all kids are like him, but his doctor acted like he was at the farest extreme possible and it wasn't normal. I get frustrated but only because I'm constantly so worried about him. Then I have MIL who throws a smurfing caniption fit if anyone asks me if he's talking and I tell them no. He's NOT talking! He says zero words. But she makes it out like I'm saying there's something wrong with him when I'm not. She's pissed off he's in speech therapy like its some horrible thing to have young women he adores bring lots of toys to our house for 2 hours a week. I'm so stressed out and he's actually causing almost none of it because I was exactly like him and naturally know how to handle him. But DH wants to yell and do time outs and none of its working and I can't convince him to take my advice and my mom is telling me to spank him so he doesn't turn into a brat and MIL just doesn't want to acknowledge that he ever does anything wrong at all because he's a perfect little angel. I wish everyone would just leave us alone.

My first thought when i read this is that you need to find a new Pedi. The speech issue can be very very frustrating and 2 year olds don't handle frustration well. Speech therapy IMO, is a good thing and I think it will help you guys a lot.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Summerfrost:</b>" My first thought when i read this is that you need to find a new Pedi. The speech issue can be very very ... [snip!] ... and 2 year olds don't handle frustration well. Speech therapy IMO, is a good thing and I think it will help you guys a lot. "</blockquote>


I normally love his pedi though and so does he   He's the only doctor DS will run up to and hug when he sees him. As far as his speech therapy I do love it. It's been a really great thing for him and me. He's learned signs and he can communicate with me now and it's made us both happier and closer. He used to be very against sitting with you or being affectionate at all and now he's more relaxed because he can express his wants and needs to me and he will come up to me now and climb in my lap and just lay there, hugging me. I wouldn't trade that for anything no matter who argues he doesn't need therapy.