How as a grandparent can I be more at ease when taking care of 2yr old child

I am a 60 yr old male grandparent and have the full time job of taking care of an 2yr old child soon to be 3. The New Year is upon us and I would like to start 2010 on the right foot as far as knowing how to cope with this child. I get irritated and at time very angry with the things see does, and how she carries on. Things like getting into things she shouldn't and I could go on. but stuff that just gets my goat if you catch my drift. So can someone with experience please give me some advice before I lose it.

You need help, and by help I mean you need someone to help you take care of this child. Be it a wife, a nurse, a relative, a close friend, a nanny, it doesn't matter. You need someone to help you take care of this child.

this question was posted a while ago, but for anyone else, children don't get the concept of rules and punishment before around 2 1/2 years old so the best you can do before that is remove temptation from her reach and give her a distraction. while you can tell her 'no, bad' or 'no, hot' or 'no, icky' and remove either her or the desired object, further explanation will go over her head. if you keep your explanations to simple, single words she will come to get a vague idea of why she cannot have/do the thing she wants. but do not expect her to remember the next time she sees the temptation because at this age she will just go for anything that tempts her. just be consistent about removing the temptation when you say no so that over time she will recognize that 'no' means she can't have what she is going for and there is no use pleading for it.

Perhaps you can make a child friendly room for her to play in? Also, try to keep her active, and on a schedule. This is a good age to bond with your granddaughter. Take trips to a play ground, read stories, color, blow bubbles, etc. You can get books and children's c.d.s at thrift stores. If you make the day fun for her, it will become fun for you. Learn to laugh and be silly. She should take a nap which will give you a break. Just ask yourself...How do you want her to remember her time with you? I wish you well!