My daughter is 3 next week, it's not like I think tantrums don't apply to her (they do, she has the odd one), but I'm so frustrated with her daily behaviour. She screams and moans over everything. From the big to the small. I try to ignore it but by mid morning I'm usually worn down to snapping at her to STOP the shrieking if not shouting at her. I know, I'm supposed to ignore this behaviour, but honestly, the things that set her off just do my tiny brain in. It's a cartoon she doesn't want. She says she wanted weetabix but now she's been presented with weetabix, shriek! She's got a tiny bit of apple juice on her. I've opened her yoghurt. That toy won't stand up on its own. She needs a wee (she has been using the loo for 6 months, she knows the fricking drill - go to the loo, why the screaming?). I haven't put my drink down fast enough to open her play doh (ie 1 second after her asking- and I never race to this sort of thing, naturally, but jeez..) She wants to go in a room but the door is shut. The first response is to scream and then demand "open it!!".
And pretty much every time, it's the first instance of her asking for something. She just screams her want/need in the tone of someone who's been ignored (I haven't).
It's wearing me down.
She's been like this since she was a baby. We've only just got her to stop screeching as soon as she wakes up in the morning.
She's otherwise a lovely girl, in to lots of things and we go out for walks, play at home, go to playgroup, all the usual. I just don't know how to get her to stop over-reacting to all this petty crap. How do I make life calm again? My head is aching again after another shit day of screeching, and the sound of my own voice chiding her.
Ugh. I can't even quit my job, and I KNOW this is not supposed to feel like a job but that's how I feel right now. And look how much I've blethered on!
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Behaviour/development
3 yr old- how do I get her to stop screaming at EVERYTHING?
summermakesmesneeze · 09/09/2013 20:20
Ooh, must've posted simultaneously! Thanks, it's wearing, isn't it?
I remember now that I video'ed (?) her having a tantrum all the way up the stairs, think it was last year. I think she was a bit stunned when I played it back to her later! I'll give that a go, maybe it'll make her think.
I bet she's an angel at nursery 
I have terrible twin tantrumming toddlers, I find 
helps, and am living in hope they will grow out of it soon 
Try 1,2,3 Magic. Loads of mumsnetters recommend it. You can buy the book on amazon and it's really worked for us. Whenever my DS1 screams, I count. Usually stops after 1 or 2 so no time out needed but I have no hesitation getting to 3 and time out because that tends to nip it in the bid for the rest of the day.
I shall now lurk in case anyone comes up with a truly magic solution to stopping tantrums 
YY! Totally identify with this with my daughter. I've so bored listening to my own responses "And how would you ask me in a nice way?" Before obliging. Or not obliging at all if its not reasonable and then living with the tantrummy consequences. I actually got so cross with her the other night.
She woke up for a drink, I helped, put on toilet for a wee, didn't want to, out her on potty, did wee, then got cross as she was effing tired and deliberately kicked the potty so wee spilt on floor, then didn't want to wash hands and didn't want me to out her back in the bed or put her pyjama bottoms, I DO IT BY MYSELF! 
Tried to cage her in a travel cot as I was getting so cross that I was scared I was going to hurt her. She climbed out and came into our room where I was crying my heart out for being a bad mother etc.
She's actually really been much better since then. I do wonder this whole keeping calm on the surface but seething underneath actually prolongs shitty behaviour and really losing your rag every now and then might not be a bad thing...
Sorry for giant response but I really do know how you feel, like I don't enjoy my lovely daughter a lot of the time.
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