Name: Carrie S.

Lebanon, VA

Number of kids: 1

Ages of kids: 14 months

Problem: I am now a stay-home mother after working full-time for almost the first year of my daughter's life. I love being home with her; however, I have found that I don't have the patience with her that I did while working.

My daughter is currently going through a very "whiny" and clingy stage with me. She often cries or whines for no reason, at least not one that is apparent to me. Lately, when she does this, I feel like I'm losing my mind.

I would never hit my daughter; however, I feel like I sometimes speak to her to sternly for her age. Since I'm not sure why she is going through this whining stage, it is hard for me to know how to respond.

I find myself telling her to "stop whining" and refusing to pick her up at her every demand because I am afraid of raising a "spoiled" child.

I would really like to feel more in control of my emotions when my daughter acts this way, I just don't know how. I suppose that both of us are adjusting to our new circumstances, but I need tips on developing patience to handle this "whining" stage until it passes - I hope!

Solution: None submitted yet.