Threenagers: Light at the end of the tunnel?

[Issymum]

I was beginning to think I would be serving a life-sentence on the 'threenager' threads, but following her 4th birthday at the of February, DD1 seems, tentatively, to be leaving her threenagerism behind her. Of course there is still the odd tantrum, random acts of defiance and general pre-school bolshiness, but it is milder and more infrequent. Rather than throwing a hissy fit about getting dressed in the mornings, on a good day she'll go to her drawers, choose her own clothes and re-appear fully-dressed. When I sent her out of the kitchen on Sunday afternoon for whining, she burst into tears, ran off to her bedroom and put herself to bed for a little sleep, emerging twenty minutes later happy and refreshed. If we ask her to do something and "count to 5", she is more likely than not to comply. Sometimes graciously.

It goes without saying that it is not all sweetness and light in the Issymum household, but there is a marked improvement. I would like to suggest that this improvement is a result of positive parenting, consistent boundary-setting and the clear communication of our family values. But that would be a downright lie. Maybe, maybe, whisper it, threenager is just a phase........

[Issymum]

Oh. I forgot to mention that DD2 will be 3 in September, so that gives me an approximate 5 month release from the threenager threads.

[suzywong]

well you do realise that now you have written this down you have jinxed it and she'll be up to her old tricks immediately don't you

good to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel, we are out of threenagism with ds1 next Tuesday.. fingers crossed

[Enid]

It is, it is a phase.

Dd1 was pretty awful but you wouldnt believe it now she is 5 and at school - it makes SUCH a difference.

dd2 is 2.5 and showing marked threenager tendencies . She's 3 in October, lets compare notes.

[scully]

dd is 3 on Saturday, she has been in this phase for a while already and shows no signs of leaving it.......didn't realise that someone so small could argue and talk over the top of you
drives me to distraction some days

[psychomum5]

Hate to piss on your fireworks but this myth of threenagers is just that.........Or it turns into three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine-ten-eleven-nager!!!!!

Either that or I just have three girls who have over abundence of hormones

[psychomum5]

Enid....the only reason that school makes a difference is because you now have a break from her

[scully]

thx for that psychomum5, feel so much better now

[psychomum5]

I am sorry to take your hope away, but it isn't all bad. There are times they are wonderful whine-free girlies. Normally between 8pm and 7am!!

[scully]

at least we can still laugh about it!