3 year olds! Oy!

[Molli526]

Is is everything I've heard about the third year true? DS, who will be three in a week, has had some doozies lately, and I guess I don't want to feel alone :o

[zwieback]

Nope, you're not alone. I have a 3 year old and, I think the old adage, "terrible twos", is definitely wrong. It's the terrible threes for sure. I'm REALLY hoping that the "phases" she is going through will soon pass because they are quite trying at times. I'm right there with you for sure.

[Luv to Cook]

Someone once told me, "if you think terrible twos are bad, you obviously don't have a three year old." We just came out of the third year and it was tough...definitely worse than twos...but 4 has been great :)!

[slknight]

Someone once told me, "if you think terrible twos are bad, you obviously don't have a three year old." We just came out of the third year and it was tough...definitely worse than twos...but 4 has been great :)!

Glad 4 is good for you. Three wasn't bad for us at all, but 4 has been a whole 'nother story. He's 4 going on 14. :rolleyes: :eek:

[NJMom]

My 2nd son is three and it's driving my bonkers!! Definely worst than 2. From what I recall with my 1st son that it did get better at 4 (which was a great year for us). I keep telling myself that it will get better, but it really is hard some days. Some mornings it's hard to get up and know that you will be facing yet another battle with someone who is so small, but can really hit a nerve! ugh!

Let's all hang in there!!:rolleyes:

NJ Mom

[Chelle D]

AHHHHHHH!!!! :eek: :eek: DS just turned two in May and is driving me crazy! It's a fun age, but there is so much stress too with fits. Now you are telling me three might be worse?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! :eek: :( :mad: :rolleyes: :p

[TKay]

It's so funny. When I had a newborn, I kept thinking, just get me to one...just get me to one...When my ds was one, I thought, just get me to two...just get me to two...:D
I think there are advantages and disadvantages to each age. Not that you don't already know that, but the shift in work gets easier and easier each year. Your kids become challenging in a different way--as you're finding out now.
Yeah, the threes are challenging. But remember, you'll get through it--just like you got through the non-sleeping newborn stage.
Okay, I've not added anything pertinent, so I'll stop now. :rolleyes:
FWIW, my boys are now 5 and 7 and challenging in a whole different way.

[do-lolly]

I always smile when people say, "mine just never went through terrible two's," because believe me, they will go through terrible. It may be two, it may be three, or it maybe 14, but at some point those little angels will be terrible. :D

[erinl]

Alex will be three in a little over a month and lately he has been testing boundaries big time. It's push, push, push all the time. I get so tired of always being a meanie, but I know I have to win this and soon he'll be back to his normal sweet self. So, we're right there with you, Molli.

[LA98]

Oh yes, just about every mom I know has said the same thing -- it's not the terrible twos, it's definitely the terrible threes! I can sympathize too. My DS is very strong-willed and extremely stubborn (a lethal combination, let me tell you!) so his second year was tough. And he was a late talker which didn't help matters. But the hardest thing about his third year was that now he uses logic to argue with us on things. Granted, it's 3-year-old logic, but it makes it a whole lot tougher when they think they can reason you out of a decision you've made! :rolleyes: We're also having trouble now with lots of back talking, etc. Makes me wonder why I wanted him to talk so badly. :D But he turns 4 this summer so I guess we just have to see what this coming year will bring! Good luck! :)

[mst]

Hmm- and after face-down tantrums on the floor at Lowe's and Home Depot, I thought it was the terrible 18 months!:p

[Robyn1007]

AHHHHHHH!!!! :eek: :eek: DS just turned two in May and is driving me crazy! It's a fun age, but there is so much stress too with fits. Now you are telling me three might be worse?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! :eek: :( :mad: :rolleyes: :p

If it makes you feel better my mom got her tubes tied when I was two because I was so challenging ;) :p but I was a pretty easy teenager and now we're best friends. In fact, she comes on Thursday for a visit and I'm beyond excited! :D

[TKay]

I was just popping back in to see what the other responses were and erinl's "push, push, push" comment reminded me of something that helped me when I was going through the terrible twos/threes with my boys. They are SUPPOSED to test you. They are SUPPOSED to push and test boundaries. It may be cold comfort, but it did help me to not get so frustrated with them. I was like, oh, okay, this is where they're supposed to be. (I'd be lying if I said I always felt that way. :D )

[mgs]

DS will be 2 end of July and I swear I am waiting for the flip of the switch. Is it bad every day? I am actually a little nervous!! HA HA> right now he has phases where he is very hyper and disagreeable but it seems to be still associated with the typical baby things : teeth, poor nap, developmental leap....

TKay - my mantra has been "this is his job" and so far it has really helped me to deal with him. i just hope I can keep this attitude when he starts with the face down, kicking screaming tantrums. It is very hard to leave a park, train table at the bookstore, etc. now. lots of resistances, crying, tears. (oh and the looks from others as if he is the only toddler that has ever done this??:confused: :rolleyes: )

I am really worried what the next year will bring.:o

[beacooker]

DS will be 2 end of July and I swear I am waiting for the flip of the switch. Is it bad every day? I am actually a little nervous!! HA HA> right now he has phases where he is very hyper and disagreeable but it seems to be still associated with the typical baby things : teeth, poor nap, developmental leap....
I am really worried what the next year will bring.:o

Well, I hadn't been participating in the thread until now, because I personally have found 2 and 3 to be my favorite ages for my boys. Granted, DS2 just turned 3 last week, so we have a ways to go yet. But I never found 2 terrible, in either of my boys, and DS1 wasn't a terrible 3 either. Yes, they have their moments, but with my boys, as long as I never let it turn into a power struggle, things don't get too bad. Which isn't to imply that I let them get away with murder, because I don't. I just pick my battles, and if they are resisting something that has to get done, I just find a way to get the job done while removing the power struggle from it. And I figure God gave them bedrooms for a reason ;) and use them as often as necessary to remove my kids from the situation when they are tantruming.

IMO, there is nothing cuter on this planet than a 2 or 3 year old. I love getting to hear them learn to express themselves. We were at Disney's MGM a few months ago, waiting for the nighttime fireworks show to begin. We were just kind of hanging out, standing around, and suddenly DS2 smiled real big, and pointed to all the other people in the audience around us, and said 'Mommy! I'm happy! These people make me happy!' :D I'd put up with every tantrum he's ever had 100 times to get the chance to see that look on his face, and hear that excitement in his voice, just one time.

And those lovely little plump, soft-skinned bodies sitting in your lap - what could be better?

I honestly don't know if my boys have just been easier than most 2 and 3 year olds, or if it's because of my attitude about them, but for some reason, their tantrums rarely get under my skin. Here's hoping that your experience with them is the same! :)

[Molli526]

I don't know if it was posting this, but the past couple days have been great. I think part of the problem is *I* expect too much, and really, he is *just* 3 years old, well will be on Thursday, and it is his job to test, and if he didn't, I would think something is wrong. He really is such a great little boy. I know my PMS-ing didn't help things :rolleyes:

[ssgold]

My DS turns 3 in few weeks and I have noticed that his fuse is a lot shorter. I can't say that 2 has been horrible. The meltdowns became fewer and shorter around 2 1/2 but they have been starting up again. I attributed it to his lack of sleep becuase he is fighting his nap, but maybe this is just 3 approaching!

[KimKelly]

Someone once told me, "if you think terrible twos are bad, you obviously don't have a three year old." We just came out of the third year and it was tough...definitely worse than twos...but 4 has been great :)!

Absolutely! We've been thru it twice, and 3's were the worst for us. Just remember it does end. We are entering the teens soon... so we'll have to update which is worse....

Kim

[magdon]

There is some series of books (i forget who by) but they are called "your one (or two, etc) year old" and their theory is that these things go in waves. so 18 months are a low point but 2 is great then 2 1/2 is bad as is 3 1/2. I think they call is change and stability but whatever, I've found it to be true for DS1 so far. He wasn't very bad at 1 or 2 but 2 1/2 was a bit challenging. Then 3 was soooo much better and a friend with a kid a few months older said "3 will suck the life out of you." And darned if there aren't days when that is so. But he'll be 3 1/2 in a couple weeks so things are bound to get better, right?! When he's not driving me insane, he is the most amazing kid.

[Luv to Cook]

Absolutely! We've been thru it twice, and 3's were the worst for us. Just remember it does end. We are entering the teens soon... so we'll have to update which is worse....

Kim

Probably, the teens..right??? I am not looking forward to that ;)! As much as these times can be trying, I am just loving it. I especially love having DD1 home everyday now that preschool is over for the summer.

[mgs]

There is some series of books (i forget who by) but they are called "your one (or two, etc) year old" and their theory is that these things go in waves. so 18 months are a low point but 2 is great then 2 1/2 is bad as is 3 1/2. I think they call is change and stability but whatever, I've found it to be true for DS1 so far. He wasn't very bad at 1 or 2 but 2 1/2 was a bit challenging. Then 3 was soooo much better and a friend with a kid a few months older said "3 will suck the life out of you." And darned if there aren't days when that is so. But he'll be 3 1/2 in a couple weeks so things are bound to get better, right?! When he's not driving me insane, he is the most amazing kid.

I heard this series of books are really really good. I should probaby get them out of the library. :)

[JanetB]

My almost 3 year old is a handful - but he is also an amazing little man - who finally (after speech delay) tell me things. We went to his first amusement park this weekend - and he looked at me on one of the rides and said - "Mom - Dis a perfect day!!". Swear to you - I almost cried.

[erinl]

I don't know if it was posting this, but the past couple days have been great. I think part of the problem is *I* expect too much, and really, he is *just* 3 years old, well will be on Thursday, and it is his job to test, and if he didn't, I would think something is wrong. He really is such a great little boy. I know my PMS-ing didn't help things :rolleyes:

Are they reading this? Because both of my kids have been angels the past couple of days. I truly do enjoy my kids, and I know they are supposed to test the limits, but I hate feeling like the bad guy all the time. Of course, they don't notice when I let things slide...