To be fed up of bossy two year old

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 08/01/2026 19:30

This is such a weird thread. I have one too OP. She's gorgeous and smart and affectionate and caring and kind but also an absolute tyrant at times. It's developmental and entirely normal and hilarious and annoying.

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 17:42

PattiPatty · 08/01/2026 17:40

Humour.
There used be a collective sense of humour on MN but now people take everything literally. Look at some old threads on classics. "Cutted up pear" IIRC. The tone of replies is so different.

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I think if that was posted now everyone would annihilate the OP for her lack of boundaries, and What Were The Consequences For Throwing The Pear

OP posts:

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 17:41

Yes, I was being sarcastic. Thank you for announcing that you aren’t going to engage any further. I do love a theatrical exit,

OP posts:

PattiPatty · 08/01/2026 17:40

six666 · 08/01/2026 16:38

So what's the actual point of posting about your toddler if you already suspect that the thread will just go a bit insane?

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Humour.
There used be a collective sense of humour on MN but now people take everything literally. Look at some old threads on classics. "Cutted up pear" IIRC. The tone of replies is so different.

Whomitmayconcern · 08/01/2026 17:36

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 17:16

she is learning she doesn’t have to do what you say

is she now

do find me that part

Where you said….living in an oppressive and tyrannical regime though. I assumed was you being sarcastic. However I will answer that at around age 2 children are learning that they are separate from their primary cares and have autonomy.

Now having read your responses to other posters as well as me, I am also wondering what the point of this thread is and not going to engage any further.

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 17:18

I mean, my op literally says (she is) getting very irate when I don’t do as I am told

I know comprehension is shite on here but surely even the dimmest MNetter is able to deduce from that that I don’t follow my orders; ergo I say no

sheesh

OP posts:

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 17:16

she is learning she doesn’t have to do what you say

is she now

do find me that part

OP posts:

Whomitmayconcern · 08/01/2026 17:12

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 17:04

I am possibly feeling a bit prickly because of the mad posts but I really don’t drag and order her around. We do seem to have gone from her having no boundaries to her living in an oppressive and tyrannical regime though.

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Well you did start a thread on toddler behaviour

she is 2 she is learning she doesn’t have to do what you say and she can have her own opinion. The world centres around her in her head but she has only experienced it mainly in your company so your her main influence.

It’s a phase and you have to put up with it, reminding her periodically you’re her mum, she’s not your mum, and tolerating what you’re prepared to tolerate. And try enjoy the nice bits because they don’t last and before you know it you’ve a surly teenager and you’re wondering where your delightful child went.

eventually she’ll go to pre school and boss the other children who will boss her back or not listen differently to you.

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 17:04

Whomitmayconcern · 08/01/2026 16:55

When they stop talking to you because you know nothing!

seriously though she’s reflecting back to you her experience of you so maybe you can understand how she may feel now boots on the other foot!

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I am possibly feeling a bit prickly because of the mad posts but I really don’t drag and order her around. We do seem to have gone from her having no boundaries to her living in an oppressive and tyrannical regime though.

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Sharptonguedwoman · 08/01/2026 17:01

beingbossedabout · 07/01/2026 19:37

I’m sure she will and she is told to wait, no, mummy doesn’t want to do that and so on, but ultimately at the moment she doesn’t care what I want.

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Can you turn into your mother at that point? I’m trying to envisage a 2 yr old bossing my mother around. No hope there. Miserable though it sounds, you could try being firm and taking charge.

Whomitmayconcern · 08/01/2026 16:55

beingbossedabout · 07/01/2026 18:15

Will probably regret starting this thread as toddler threads here often go mental but my two year olds bossy behaviour is really getting on my nerves. It started with just being ordered to ‘sit there mummy’ and it’s evolved to dragging me around, taking a finger and pulling me, trying to shove me down on the sofa if I need to get up, and getting very irate when I don’t do as I am told, it’s tedious as hell. When does it end?

When they stop talking to you because you know nothing!

seriously though she’s reflecting back to you her experience of you so maybe you can understand how she may feel now boots on the other foot!

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 16:54

Sorry @Zigazagbox , didn’t mean to quote you 🤦🏼‍♀️

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Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 16:53

Zigazagbox · 08/01/2026 16:47

I mean it true that it’s developmentally normal for toddlers to boss you about and it also true that you need to continue to demonstrate boundaries so they will eventually learn that bossing people around doesn’t work. Bot sure why those two things are being treated as mutually exclusive??

My youngest is just getting to this stage it’s both irritating and absolutely hilarious

So do you think I’ve been meekly and timidly acceding to all instructions, including allowing myself to be dragged out of a shop without paying, or do you think it is probably more likely that I regularly say no? Which do you honestly think is most likely?

And if you do think I’ve just been trotting along as my two year old drags me, then you are wrong. Perhaps you think you tell them once and they stop? They don’t.

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RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 08/01/2026 16:51

Your toddler is bossing you around, and by your own admission you are entirely fed up with it.

Now either you can let the behaviour continue to annoy you, or you can decide to assert your parental authority and do something about it. Which is it to be?

Zigazagbox · 08/01/2026 16:47

I mean it true that it’s developmentally normal for toddlers to boss you about and it also true that you need to continue to demonstrate boundaries so they will eventually learn that bossing people around doesn’t work. Bot sure why those two things are being treated as mutually exclusive??

My youngest is just getting to this stage it’s both irritating and absolutely hilarious

Carriemac · 08/01/2026 16:38

beingbossedabout · 07/01/2026 19:37

I’m sure she will and she is told to wait, no, mummy doesn’t want to do that and so on, but ultimately at the moment she doesn’t care what I want.

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You are unreasonable just for calling yourself ‘mummy’ say ‘I am busy ‘ I ill
olay when I’m finished ‘ etc the most downtrodden parents I know call them selves mummy as if you were are a person in your own right with agency .

six666 · 08/01/2026 16:38

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 16:19

No, I don’t like it particularly. How it’s been extrapolated from that that she’s never told no, has no boundaries and is the sole cause of problems in today’s youth I don’t know … but like I say, MN threads about toddlers tend to go a bit insane!

So what's the actual point of posting about your toddler if you already suspect that the thread will just go a bit insane?

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 16:19

No, I don’t like it particularly. How it’s been extrapolated from that that she’s never told no, has no boundaries and is the sole cause of problems in today’s youth I don’t know … but like I say, MN threads about toddlers tend to go a bit insane!

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Christmascaketime · 08/01/2026 16:13

Maybe your wording? Fed up suggests you don’t like it. I also wouldn’t class a 2 year old pulling or pushing an adult repeatedly a normal toddler phase, most parents would say no. But if it’s working for you and isn’t actually making you fed up carry on as you are.

ERthree · 08/01/2026 15:50

Garroty · 07/01/2026 19:39

There's no good telling off a two year old for developmentally normal behaviour. Of course OP can set limits and say no (and nowhere in her post does it suggest she doesn't) but telling her off is wrongheaded.

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No need to tell her off but every need to say no.

Original poster

beingbossedabout · 08/01/2026 15:40

FrostyPalms · 08/01/2026 15:07

Another one who is baffled by the point of this post! Your daughter's behavior is getting on your nerves and really tedious, yet when people try and give advice you jump down their throats!

Yes, she's being developmentally appropriate, That doesn't mean you have to put up with it, and it's certainly not too soon for her to start learning about boundaries and that she's not always in charge.

Honestly, I don’t like it when threads go sour but what are you baffled by? It’s a bit of humorous frustration, no more and no less. Really no big deal.

She is regularly told no, I have no issue in, you know, staying in a shop and paying rather than being dragged out 😂 but it is an exasperating phase.

It does upset me when people are unpleasant about a toddler for no reason. It’s really not particularly nice to read, especially when she’s a lovely girl in most respects, it’s a normal phase and isn’t a sign of poor parenting or of lack of boundaries.

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PattiPatty · 08/01/2026 15:23

DS went from tyrant phase to high pitched whiney stage. I had to say my ears couldn't hear whiney voices only normal speech. It did not deter him.

FrostyPalms · 08/01/2026 15:07

Another one who is baffled by the point of this post! Your daughter's behavior is getting on your nerves and really tedious, yet when people try and give advice you jump down their throats!

Yes, she's being developmentally appropriate, That doesn't mean you have to put up with it, and it's certainly not too soon for her to start learning about boundaries and that she's not always in charge.

WhatAnExcellentDayForAnExorcism · 08/01/2026 14:57

I do not miss this 🤣. My niece is almost 3 and is firmly in her tiny tyrant phase, I love her dearly but I’m so glad I can go home and deal with my hormonal 9 year old instead 🤣🤣. At lease she can be somewhat reasoned with.

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 08/01/2026 14:43

It is never a good idea to let either animals or small children think they are in charge.