DD1 is 'multi-tasking'/Those bl**dy three year olds again.

[Issymum]

For the past four of five days, DD1 (yet another 'challenging threenager') has been getting up super-early then refusing to go back to bed. If we let her get up, she staggers through the rest of the day grumpy and exhausted.

We are trying very hard at the moment not to get cross and shout, if for no other reason, because it's completely ineffective with DD1. So this morning, I put her back to bed, shut the childgate across her bedroom door and explained that I wouldn't be back until it was time to get up. 45 mintues of howling, crying and pleading ensued whilst I died a thousand maternal deaths in another room and hoped to God that none of our neighbours would call the NSPCC. Unable to take any more, I tiptoed across the landing and peeked into her room. She was sitting on the floor (back to the door), screaming 'Mummy, Mummy, Mummy' at the top of her voice whilst flipping the pages and looking at the pictures in 'The Dinosaurs' Day Out'!!

Is this normal? Does anybody's else's three year old relieve the tedium of throwing a tantrum by simultaneously reading a good book? If she can do this at 3 years old, what the hell does the future bring?

[krocket]

ROFL
if it's any consolation (although I doubt it) DS (also 3) is the same in the morning - gets up at 5.30 then we have an hour of shouting and protests when we tell him it's still night time. He has not, to my knowledge, performed these tantrums whilst reading however, perhaps DD has a unique talent?

[Grommit]

Issymum - sorry but I can't help laughing at the idea of your dd reading midst tantrum! Sounds like you might have a very bright kid! Sympathies re. the getting up early - a star chart worked for us

[sponge]

Excellent .
Well I think it tells you how serious she really was about that tantrum and how right you were to ignore it.

[Angeliz]

I love it!!+

[Amfs]

rofl in recognition

kind of makes you realise how manipulative they can be doesn't it? and reinforces the ignore tactic

[krocket]

I would have loved to have seen her face if she'd have looked up 'mid-read' to find you watching her.

[JuniperDewdrop]

agree,she sounds bright

[Azzie]

I think you should stick to your guns, Issymum. If she's bright enough to do what she did, she's bright enough to quickly realise that you mean what you say and will not be moved from it. Hard for you, but she's obviously not traumatized by the whole process. If you give in now, she'll run you ragged.

She sounds so like my DD - it took me a while to realise that she needed a much more resolute hand than her older brother - treatment that would have been mental cruelty for him was absolutely necessary for her. She's now a very confident and mature almost-5 year old who's taking school in her stride, so I don't think we did her any harm!

I just keep getting flashes of what she's going to be like at 15...

[KangaMummy]

lol I realise that it was not funny for you at the time BUT at least you know that she wasn't in pain or that you needed to get up to go to her. That you were right to ignore her screams.

See what happens tomorrow

[sarahleese]

Hi,

I'm a producer for GMTV and am looking for someone who has had a terrible experience with a nanny or au-pair. We are doing an item tomorrow morning on childcare regulation and it'b be great if you could help.
Many thanks
Sarah Leese
020 7827 7301

[KangaMummy]

I don't get it why is the above post here

[hatter]

Haven't quite come across this but have - frequently - come across an incredible capacity to turn tantrums on and off. I swear dd has a switch somewhere. We recently had REALLY bad problems going to bed - an hour or more of screaming. We started a star chart and linked the reward to the problem (the problem was dh working too late: the reward is cake in a cafe with just her and dh) and the change has been incredible. My mum really summed it up - she says that dd has clearly "decided" not to start the tantrum in the first place - so no problems at all. The thing is she clearly "decides" to start, but was getting past the point of no return.

[hatter]

presumably she just picked an active thread

[AuntyQuated]

Sarah, you have put your requset in the wrong place really. For maximum effect try clicking here and post it on a thraed of its own

[KangaMummy]

sorry hatter I meant the one below me but it was above when I wrote in the message box IYSWIM

[suedonim]

Issymum, my dd was good at the sort of thing you describe. It was almost as if she had 'Tantrum Mode' switched on and it was humming away in the background while she did other things. She'd even be grinning her head off, upon occasion!! I know it must be most annoying but really, I think it's a good sign that she is able to occupy herself and isn't in distress. And don't worry about the future - as Scarlett O'Hara said, tomorrow is another day.

[motherinferior]

I'm sorry but I had to roar with laughter. Mine doesn't do that but does insist on 'reading' ANOTHER book while I read her a bedtime story.

A friend, having ruled firmly that 'crying' meant 'tears only' with her daughter, found said brat practising Real Tears IN FRONT OF A MIRROR.

I put nothing past them. Nothing whatsoever.

[krocket]

oh I LOVE the drama classes in front the mirror. DS will watch himself and turn up the tantrum if he happens to pass a mirror.

[hatter]

It's ok KangaMummy - I knew which one you meant

[Pidge]

That's hilarious. Definitely a sign of genius!

I just heard a tale from a friend about a little lad who was tantrumming lying down in the middle of a (usually quiet) road, when a car approached he got up, went to the side of the road and when the car passed he went back to his screaming fit lying down in the road again.

[suzywong]

PMSL at this thread

My three year old has just become a 'challenging threenagner', oh the joys to come

[JanH]

suedonim, with my DD2 in full scream, 2-minutes-later was another day, fiddle-dee-dee...

(I have a video clip of her, leaving the room howling because she had bumped her leg, and coming back in literally seconds later with a big smile!)

[motherinferior]

Actually DD1 learned very young, at about 18 months, to lower herself carefully to the floor, making sure she was quite comfortable...and THEN throw a massive strop.

[Blackduck]

lol at this thread....mines only 17 months so got it all to come!

[geogteach]

DS is similarly challenging in the morning, we settled on a radio alarm clock hoping he would learn only to get up when is songs came on, took a while but has mastered the theory, now he stays in his room shouting 'come on radio, I want to get up' at the top of his voice!