Tips and ideas about going out to appointments with toddler?

I have a two year old son and a two month old daughter. When we're at home my son is pretty great, of course he still messes in things he's not supposed to from time to time. When we have appointments to go to he becomes a whole different person. For example, I had an appointment and I'm sitting there trying to talk to the lady, he did not want to sit still. Starting throwing a terrible tantrum, throwing his head back on me, kicking me, biting me, nothing I was doing was making it better. As he screamed to the top of his lungs I tried giving him my phone he threw it, my keys threw them, cracker's started throwing them on the floor. At one point I just broke down and started crying... I just felt so defeated and like a horrible parent. He's done this when his sister has appointments too. The only time he doesn't is when his dad comes with us, but he can't always come. Any tips or advice on what to do when appointments come around would be greatly appreciated. It's getting to where I dread knowing there's upcoming appointments soon. Also maybe relevant, he doesn't speak much at all. He has an upcoming speech therapist appointment. Sorry for the wall of text, on mobile. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2aCsluH

Help with a 3 year old taking medicine regularly and hitting/kicking parents

We have always known that we were lucky to have such a great kid who behaves, sleeps, and eats like an adult. The only part that's ever been hard is managing his chronic illnesses that don't hinder him much, just us keeping his environment safe. That said, he turned three a month ago and has completely changed.He must take medicines when he first wakes up and goes to bed that are mixed into a tablespoon of applesauce or yogurt. These medicines have not changed in over a year and he was just fine with taking them. For the past few days, taking medicines has been something he has been protesting and drawing out for hours. He can't eat until he has taken these and he thinks he can outlast us, but he always ends up taking it after having his meltdowns or outbursts. If we talk about why he wouldn't take it later we get "I don't know" or "I don't want my medicine" but then he will understand why and will pretend to take it nicely in play. Then the next dose comes around and it's another battle. We've let him take it himself, we've given it to him, we've offered to see what he wants to do, but all he really wants is to not take it. Since it is just applesauce in a bowl, we have ended up with it all over us too from him saying he'll take it and then throwing it on us.Coupled with this, he will hit us followed by a kick or headbutt. We are slowly losing our patience and it's made protesting his medicines also violent outbursts. It will come from nowhere in the middle of the day too. He will approach me and say, "I love you Mama" and then rip my glasses off my face and throw them across the room. Quickly escalating into kicking and headbutting me, he is out to hurt me. If I ask him what's bothering him I get "I don't know" and if I try to tell him he's angry or sad I get "I not angry[sad]" in return.He doesn't see violence on tv, seeing as he only watches Daniel Tiger with any regularity, or at home. I stay home with him but we are out with other children frequently and he is just fine with them. He stayed with my parents for a short time and attacked them just like he does with us, so it seems to be adults in his life. I'd understand if this was predicated by a "No" or correction, but it really is midplay or midconversation.I know this is not surprising 3 year old behavior, I'm just at a loss for ideas on medicine and not being bullied by my son. I was raised in an abusive home so when my son comes in for hugs, I find myself shying away so I don't get slapped and I hate that. Plus, we can't reason with a three year old that the medicine is important because he doesn't get it.TL;DR Child used to take medicine normally, now protests the 2 bites of applesauce each morning and night. Also having issues with trying to hurt Mom and Dad, both provoked and unprovoked. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2aiEobl

Planned a sexy beach weekend with my husband and then...vomit!

Last year for my husbands birthday I surprised him with a night at the Westin. We do not have family in town so it took a while to get the only sitter we trust to do an overnight stay with our one and three year old. That day, the three year old vomited once, but she assured us it was fine and she and her kids came to watch our girls. Finally, a night out, a sexy hotel room filled with fun for my husband and I...and then bam, it hits me and you know the rest.I did it better this year. Four years now and we have never been away from our kids for more than 12 hours. I was going to rock this one out. I had a condo on the beach reserved for 3 days. Same sitter scheduled for 3 glorious days away. Sexy bag was packed for a birthday celebration my husband would never forget (the kind that all husbands dream about.) Paddle boarding and kayaking trip was planned, dinner planned, it was going to be amazing. 5 hours before we were to leave the four year old runs into my room and vomits all over me. 2 hours later, the two year old vomits all over the crib and her Daddy. For the love of GOD! Nothing is more important than my babies, but I really wish I was laying on the beach right now instead of on the couch with the faint smell of vomit lingering.Thanks for listening to me vent. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2ajyFFe

My parents instincts turned out to be right and the neighbor was indeed a child molester. When do you warn (if you warn) other parents about your instincts?

The background is basically that this guy who moved to the neighborhood last year was acting VERY sketchy. I got a bad vibe but also a lot of signs that he wasn't ok. He'd always talk to the kids when he caught them alone, would talk to them about his dog and invite them over to come see his dog without me, gave them candy, etc. Most of the time I was just in the background and listening/ watching and eventually after me telling him that they would not go over and for him to stop inviting them and giving them candy without my supervision, he stopped.Today, my husband linked to my the newspaper where he had been arrested for a child molester case. Apparently he might (case will go to trial now) molested a young boy while tutoring him and he possibly has other victims. I called the local police station already. They took my number and said they'd call me back since I'm not in town. Anyway, my point is...There was another family with young kids living next to us, I always wanted to "warn" the parents that something shady was going on since the parents let the children run wild (they were older). My husband told me that I shouldn't say anything because ultimately we have no idea if something IS fishy with him or not. I agree with him, the last thing we needed is to have him on a neighborhood watch and the dude being totally innocent.So, what do you guys do in those situations? I feel bad not mentioning anything to the other parents now but what do you do when you just have a feeling that something is off? via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2aiEcZK

Bi-Monthly Application, games and books review - July 29, 2016

This is a Bi-Weekly thread meant to share review and comments on children's phone applications, games and books.Feel free to share with us your new discoveries, what you liked and what you didn't really appreciate. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2ajxMg5

Do you force your children to call adults they are familiar with 'sir' and 'ma'am?'

I would just like to get the perspective of some other parents. I was raised to treat those in authority with respect, and I tell my children to say ma'am and sir to people like their teachers, school resource officer, etc. I also prefer that if they are having a conversation with an adult that they do not know, that they use sir or ma'am. My general policy is if they wonder whether they should use one of these terms, it is safer to just use it.However I was not raised in a strict household and was never required to call my parents or uncles and aunts or close family friends sir or ma'am. I just feel like you should be comfortable enough with your family that you do not have to use these words to show respect. I don't feel like you have to acknowledge an older family member's authority in literally every time you speak with them as a child.My brother-in-law feels differently, and when I am not around he tells my children to call him sir, and for context I have an 8 year old son and a 15 year old daughter.How do you folks feel about this? I would like for my children to use it when it is appropriate but at the same time I just feel like as relaxed as all of my families households are, it's a little strange to have one person continually tell your children to call them sir. I am also not sure whether to just tell my kids not to worry about it or whatever because I hate to tell them to just ignore him. My kids are respectful, don't get me wrong, but to me that is a pretty much meaningless sign of respect.Whether you agree with me or not I appreciate your input. I just want other people's perspectives. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2aCis0j

Breaking my preschooler's "scripted" conversations

A while back I took my 3.5 year old on a "nature walk", and he noticed that there were little holes in the leaves. I walked him through the thought process concluding that caterpillars must have eaten them. As an entomologist, I was thrilled by his curiosity.Fast forward a couple months and every damn time we go on this walk he immediately gravitates to the holey leaves and repeats this conversation with himself, like he's reciting lines from a play. I've tried showing him other neat things ("Hey look, this leaf is all rolled up! Who do you think did that? Let's find out!") but it just bounces right off him. I think the only thing he is absolutely certain of in this world is that caterpillars eat leaves.Is there some other way of redirecting him? Why is he so obsessed with this one fact? via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2af0hKJ