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AIBU?

to be getting embarrassed now at my 3yos behaviour?

36 replies

AllPurposeNortherner · 30/03/2013 23:51

Seriously. Today she hit my mums birthday cake and sent slices flying, because her slice wasn't coming fast enough.

I've tried all sorts. People say she is just being three to my face, but i see them rolling their eyes.

She strips off randomly (when she was a toddler at one point she was going to bed with packing tape on her nappy, two vests and a backwards sleepsuit and STILL getting naked and smearing poo)

She has HUGE tantrums, involving running about throwing things and ripping up paper etc, usually for hardly any reason except her being tired

She still has a bottle at night, because that and her smelly blanket is the only way I get a couple of hours peace before she comes into my bed and kicks me/shoves blanket in my face/hits me with books until she suddenly conks out asleep.

She randomly attacks 6yo DD1, pulling her hair, so much that I am starting to consider telling DD1 to hit back, which is no good for anyone.

She is very loving, and funny, and will chat about Thomas or pretend to be a dog for hours on end, but her temper is getting me down and starting to mean that other children are wary of her.

HELP!

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znaika · 30/03/2013 23:55

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AgentZigzag · 30/03/2013 23:57

They all sound very usual things for a 3 YO and nothing to be embarrassed about at all Smile

It can be a bit alarming though because of the sheer emotion of what they do, but they're just learning the rules and how you deal with it really matters.

Telling your DD1 to hit back is definitely out, why would you encourage such a thing?

Be firm, consistent and persistent.

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YouTheCat · 31/03/2013 00:06

Can you speak to your HV about having some assessments done?

I only say this because that description reminded me of my ds when he was 3 and he is on the autistic spectrum - especially the poo smearing. I had 3 years of that.

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AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 00:32

She turned 3 in November, so 3.4. DD1 has only just turned 6.

I know about the hitting back being a bad idea, I don't think I would do it, but I've lost count of the amount of times I have left them playing at the opposite ends of the room, gone to wash up or whatever and heard DD1 crying so rushed back in to see her head bent back with DD2 hold of her hair and DD1 not fighting back or defending herself at all, just crying. Often with DD1s book or drawing thrown across the room or ripped.

Interesting that you mention autism. DD1 has her own autistic style issues - wetting herself, staring at children, whistling, climbing as a calming mechanism, outdated vocabulary, chewing/licking things, random facts with no connection to conversation recited word for word from a book she read the week before etc, correcting my grammar, interpreting things very literally and crying when other children break rules. DD1 started a new school and was upset that other children were "bothering" her by asking her to play. DD2 is so different though - they are like chalk and cheese - if we go for a walk, DD2 will be under my skirt and non stop chattering, DD1 goes and sits in an empty field then comes back with a question, usually about death or gore.

I wonder if I could take them both to the GP at once?

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zippey · 31/03/2013 00:42

Id agree with being firm, and maybe a time-out/naughty step solution if current discipling isnt working. It might give her time to calm down.

Please dont tell your DD1 to hit back, that is just going to cause her to be as bad.

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AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 00:48

I try time out, she just laughs and runs away. Even a couple of times she has said sorry, but it is just a word that she expects will undo whatever she has done and she gets annoyed when people are still annoyed.

Stickers just lead to her telling me "I not get ANY stickers today, cos I being naughty!"

I tried putting her favourite coat in my (locked) office for two days and she just shrugged and told me she has another one.

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AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 00:48

The coat thing was because she wouldn't pick it up off the floor.

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ll31 · 31/03/2013 00:55

they both sound lovely interesting but exhausting kids! what about asking health visitor or gp-even if only for reassurance

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ll31 · 31/03/2013 00:56

they both sound lovely interesting but exhausting kids! what about asking health visitor or gp-even if only for reassurance

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AgentZigzag · 31/03/2013 02:00

I'm not sure a 3 YO would have the cognitive ability to fully understand the concept of feeling sorry and all the complex reasons why that might affect other people and what makes it a good thing to do AllPurpose.

It's encouraging good behaviour in them by setting up foundations for when they have a better understanding of why these things matter.

Who is it that's carrying on being annoyed at her even after she's apologised? It seems a bit strong, because I can't think of anything a 3 YO would do which is so bad that an adult is still annoyed, even after the DC has done what they've been told to do after they've done something wrong, and say they're sorry.

And what she said about the coat is just pure 3 YO logic, and very true.

She's not saying it because she's trying to get one over on you, she's saying it because she's trying to make sense of the world and that's how things come across to her.

I'm only going on the few posts you've written, but your expectations seem very high, perhaps a bit too high, of such a small child.

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NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 31/03/2013 08:56

I disagree with Agent that it's ordinary behaviour for a 3 year old....yes 3 year olds are impulsive etc but what you describe OP doesn't sound that typical and I would ask for an assesment.

Have you noticed if she plays well with other children? Is she imaginative?

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Coconutty · 31/03/2013 09:03

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MrsLouisTheroux · 31/03/2013 09:21

They all sound very usual things for a 3 YO and nothing to be embarrassed about at all
No, not usual.
What's her sleep pattern like OP? 3 year olds need sleep and if she's getting over tired/ staying up too late it would account for the manic behaviour and sudden dropping down fast asleep.

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digerd · 31/03/2013 09:27

Your DD1, has the right to defend herself against the attacks from her sister.

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RedHelenB · 31/03/2013 09:32

My ds was still randomly undressing himself at gone 3. Doesn't sound too extreme from what you've posted but it is wearing. Have you tried the three crosses & 10 ticks? Used to work with ds if he got less that 3 crosses & 10 ticks for doing something he should first time the he got a small treat.

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lisad123everybodydancenow · 31/03/2013 09:33

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dietstartstmoz · 31/03/2013 09:51

OP-our youngest son has autism. I would advise you to go to your GP with both and list your concerns for both and ask for a referral to have them both assessed for asd. From reading your description of your DD1 you should also inform the school senco of your concerns and referral. Your dd2 sounds like she could have sensory difficulties-stripping off etc. and the cake incident could be 3 yr old frustration but it may also be her lack of understanding. Do get a referral. If it asd it wont go away and more problems can develop as they get older. Good luck

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KittyAndTheFontanelles · 31/03/2013 09:54

Angry Shock w

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AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 10:25

They are both imaginative, DD2 spends about half her life as a dog or train (and much of the rest of it talking about dogs and trains. Especially trains - their Dad has won his round of mastermind twice and come second in the semis twice and he can't keep up the amount of Thomas knowledge the 3yo has Grin)

DD1 is in her own dream world, she sings and whistles, and talks in an American voice about being a princess. Then she randomly shouts at people for saying "tummy" instead of "stomach" or something. Sigh. But she is imaginative. Her own chosen reading is about 50-50 fiction and non fiction, and the fiction is things like those awful Rainbow Fairies as well as the usual Roald Dahl etc, so she has the imagination to follow them.

They are both the best children in the world, obviously Grin but it is difficult when I have them both upset over NOTHING, DD1 wet and DD2 nude. People keep telling me to smack them, which obviously I would NEVER do, but I feel like I am being judged.

They are such lovely girls, most of the time they are relatively presentable and polite, they are both really clever - I get quite a lot of people doing that raised eyebrow, opened eyes look over their heads when one of them says a clever thing. They are both so loving too - DD1 comes and sits about a cm from my face, and DD2 knocks me over sometimes with the strength that she runs at me for a cuddle.

I would just like to be able to do some housework or have a brew without world war three setting off.

DD1 has just started at her new school - she did just mornings for a week, then the half week of full days before the holiday, and DD2 starts her new nursery soon, so I will give them a few weeks then ask what people think. Me and thier dad have just split up and we have all moved, so people might put it down to that, but they have always been like this. Emotions are higher atm, they are having more tantrums and random odd behaviour, but that is fair enough.

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Dawndonna · 31/03/2013 10:36

I have three with Autism. I would go to the doctors and have a chat.
Mine are all beautiful and clever and all present very differently, but I did have one that did the poo smearing and undressing. And yes, we parcel taped nappies on and put sleepsuits on backwards.

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CamillaMacaulay1 · 31/03/2013 10:43

I have a spirited 3 year old. She's nearly 4 now and has started to calm down....a little!! Whenever she has hit her sister she got put on time out and now she doesn't do that any more. WRT knowing if there is a special need, I think it can be hard to figure out when something is problem enough to need a diagnosis. I think as a parent you have a gut feeling as to whether your child is not NT. I've had the odd concern about my 3 year old but when looking at the bigger picture I think she is probably ok at this point. But I continue to keep an eye on her as I have another with ASD.

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dietstartstmoz · 31/03/2013 11:15

OP- my autistic son is beautiful, charms everyone he meets. All the professionals who work with him like him, enjoy working with him especially his autism teacher who adores him. He is a very loving child-lots of kisses and cuddles. He is affectionate. He is clever-in mainstream primary (with support for emotions, attention span). He is in the top 1/3 of his yr 1 class. He does spellings with yr2. He loves reading and enjoys fiction and non-fiction books. He has 'special interests' things he has an encyclopedic knowledge of. He has imagination. He has spent all morning and yest running round the house playing an imaginary mario game, he is in it and things are coming to get him. He also has a dx of high functi

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dietstartstmoz · 31/03/2013 11:19

Sorry posted too soon-he is autistic. He has huge meltdowns and tantrums. We are always walking on eggshells around him. He licks and chews everything. His sensory processing is crap and he doesnt always feel the urge to wee before its too late. Autism does not always present as you may think. Do seek a referral.

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Branleuse · 31/03/2013 11:21

i have two autistic sons who are as different from each other as chalk and cheese, but both definitely ASD.

What you said reminds me of ds1 at that age

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AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 11:23

How do I get referrals without making a big deal of it for the girls?

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