Hi J.,
Wow, it sounds like we are having about the same problems with a small toddler. My son moved to Montana with his wife and 19 month old son. His wife decided she did not want to be a wife and mother any more and moved back to her home state. Will me being Grandma and the only people my son knows here I have become the day care for the baby. When mom was here her son was angry all the time.
Once she left he has changed. He went from screaming all the time to a normal behavier for some one so small. But then the trouble started. He would have these moments of just screaming for nothing. He would grab my hair and pull it.
I was without thought. What do I do?
So I asked a doctor what do I do. I love my Grandson and I want to do things right. He said when the baby screams tell him no the first 2 times then a swat on the third time. He said I was being tested and I was thought of being the one who changed things on him and I was to be hurt for hurting him.
So I did what the doctor said. That worked after about a 3 week period. Then it went to hair pulling. Well when he pulled my hair I would get loud with " that hurts". I would have to fake a cry. He did not like hurting me so after a while he changed.
Now it was off to taking everything off the tables to throwing my things on the floor. The doctor said the baby was angry that his life changed and he did not know how to handle it. He said boys are that way. They like to have things change slowly.
I made parts of my house that was for him only. If I wanted to be in that area I would ask him can Grandma play here? If he said no then I would not. Then when he was on my side I would tell Hi honey want to be with Grandma? He would then I would give him love and play with him soon he was inviting me to his side.
They need to know that they matter in the change we put them through, they have feelings that they can't figure out yet and hey they were happy and we changed it. Soon our little Grandson worked his way into trusting that this is a group thing.
Now we have stairs.... I hated him around the stairs. I would live on pins and needles when he wanted to go up them and down them. I put everything I could think of on the floor so if he fell he would be safe. We kids have a natural I want to climb on everything and do everything because it is all new to them. So I made the stairs a chore.
Every time I had to use them I took him by the hand safely up and down them. Did more than I needed on the stairs but it made it boring to him and the funny was gone. He wanted them because of the gates only. But when I made it just an everyday thing and not fun he lost intress.
Once in a while he wants to play on the stairs so I start off with the gate giving him 4 stairs to play safely on, as his skills get better I give hime a few more. he needs the skills to learn how to use them any way. After a while he has become a pro. Well a few small trips to the bottom also shows him they can smart when it hurt. They learn.
I lost 4 lbs in the deal. When we say " No". that means it must be fun...and they want it even more. So reverse it on them and it works out.
Tell you child that you love him right out of the blue and make it fast. Big kisses and hugs but fast. That is a what they do. They feel things quick and move on cause they learn fast.
You are doing a great job it is hard to do things by your self, I am proud of you giving it your all and he will love you so much for it later. I was a single mon with 3 for 11 years 2 boys 11 and 10 and a daughter that was at the time 2. Boy was that hard on them and my guilty feeling of not being able to give them things they really wanted. I can tell you some stories.
I hope this helped or made you laugh.. Have a great day and hey talk any time. I see that there is a lot of women that have great advice. See we are all there for you. :o}
Sylvia