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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask mums of girls aged four plus

91 replies

kidseatfree · 30/07/2026 16:01

If you have a mostly lovely DD, what was she like at three?

(am in a bit of despair here!)

OP posts:
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kidseatfree · 31/07/2026 13:19

Gosh. I’m not at all … just a difficult stage. We do plenty of nice things, she has a weekly swimming or ballet lesson and we go to a playgroup every week in term time. I spend lots of time (or try to - she often refuses!) reading to her and doing activities she likes such as sticker books. I do try my best but she just is at a very tricky stage in some ways.

OP posts:
howlsandmiouws · 31/07/2026 10:44

kidseatfree · 31/07/2026 03:09

Well, yes ,,. I have a three year old DD, I’m asking what posters who have girls a bit older are like and the poster I’m replying to has a DD who became nice at seven. So maybe four years to go!

Thanks all. I’m honestly finding her so draining and not particularly enjoyable to be around which is making me sad as I used to love being with her and spending the days with her and I dread it now.

Please don't be too hard on her. She can't help it. This is all part and parcel of being a mother. More than anything, she needs to know that you love her unconditionally and that you're not judging her. She is who she is at this moment in her development, and she needs you and her dad to guide and support her through the good times and the challenging ones.

It's completely normal to feel fed up at times, but it's important to stay kind, loving, and consistent while maintaining healthy boundaries.

Are you doing activities together that your daughter genuinely enjoys? Maybe a ballet class, music lessons, or something else she's interested in? Cooking and baking together can also be lovely ways to connect. Share the parenting where you can, I hope her dad is involved and able to give you a break too.

Our children often need us the most during their most challenging moments. Loving them through those times is what helps them build real confidence, security, and resilience.

Do you have a pet? At that age they can have a best friend in a cat or dog at home. It sounds like you are unhappy and looking at her as if she were a fully formed adult. She is little and you need to be the grown up who has patience for her. Is she starting school next September? So pre-school this year?

Manasprey · 31/07/2026 08:48

kidseatfree · 31/07/2026 03:09

Well, yes ,,. I have a three year old DD, I’m asking what posters who have girls a bit older are like and the poster I’m replying to has a DD who became nice at seven. So maybe four years to go!

Thanks all. I’m honestly finding her so draining and not particularly enjoyable to be around which is making me sad as I used to love being with her and spending the days with her and I dread it now.

I quite often wanted to leave. Few kick offs where i did have to go and drive around/ go for a walk, rather than murder her, because she was just so frustrating and relentless.

Occasional flashes of that behaviour still flares up- but she uses her power for good, not evil these days.

kidseatfree · 31/07/2026 03:09

Well, yes ,,. I have a three year old DD, I’m asking what posters who have girls a bit older are like and the poster I’m replying to has a DD who became nice at seven. So maybe four years to go!

Thanks all. I’m honestly finding her so draining and not particularly enjoyable to be around which is making me sad as I used to love being with her and spending the days with her and I dread it now.

OP posts:
usernamemustnotcontainspecialcharacters · 30/07/2026 23:05

kidseatfree · 30/07/2026 16:12

Oh god another four years to go 🤦🏻‍♀️ 😂

You asked about 3 but say you have 4?years to go?????

Matronic6 · 30/07/2026 23:04

My DD was still having regular tantrums at 3 and mimicking a lot of behaviors from others at nursery and absolute meltdowns of she didnt get her way. But in the last few months her reasoning has really improved, she has calmed a lot, just a warning of a time out of enough for her to stop. I was actually thinking the other day how much more I am enjoying her company and really love this age.

NotHisLastName · 30/07/2026 23:03

kidseatfree · 30/07/2026 21:36

I wasn’t totally sure whether that post was a bit of a windup or not tbh 👀

No choices has never worked here - you just get no to everything. Blue shoes or pink ones NO SHOES right then!

Weirdly, where it does work is with my stroppy year 8s. ‘Leo, you and Jake just don’t work well together. So look, would you rather sit with Evie and Olivia or over here, by the door?’
’Door! I ain’t sitting with them!’ (Evie and Olivia sigh in relief.)

While had I said ‘Leo, sit here by the door please’ there would have been no end of arguments. It’s the illusion of control. But my three year old doesn’t want an illusion!

No to everything is so relatable. I once got a No to chocolate because she preferred to dig her heels in 😆

Hang in there!

Pyjamatimenow · 30/07/2026 22:59

Both mine wearing really hard at that age. The eldest was much better age 5. The youngest fear is 5 now and is still hard work but we have more good days than bad

TheWonderhorse · 30/07/2026 22:54

Oh OP it's hard sometimes. Just in case it makes you feel better I have two girls who were brilliant at 3, 4, 5. Now they are 14 and 10 and any sense of achievement from their younger years has gone, and the universe has handed me my arse. Everything I say is embarrassing, wrong or both wrong and embarrassing. My existence in the world is a cross they bear daily and with as much grace as they can muster. That's not a lot of grace.

Needanadultgapyear · 30/07/2026 22:37

Well she was born stubborn and it hit a peak at 3. She did not sleep to the point I said at bed time as long as I can not see you or hear you I don’t care and then my day would start at 4.30 am. I grew to hate the sound of Why? And because I am the mummy and I say so became my favourite answer.
Now she is 22 she is glorious we are very close and she is a pleasure to spend time with. She is enormously tenacious and this is making her successful in her career.

Oioiqueen · 30/07/2026 22:12

3 was hard as there are two years between her and younger sibling and I really felt in the trenches. I also think she was bored, once she got into nursery and then pre school she started flying. She's now 7 and ahead of year expectations and does not sit still as into everything. The attitude has started creeping in but I'm glad to be out of the early years with her.

Cathmawr · 30/07/2026 22:12

Oh my word ladies this thread has made me SO happy!

My 3 yr old DD is the loudest, bossiest, most headstrong human I've ever met. She is hilarious and I love her to pieces but I am having occassional moments of panic feeling like I've created a future world dictator 🤣

AnonSugar · 30/07/2026 22:08

MagicThanks · 30/07/2026 18:45

An absolute psycho. She’s wonderful now (10)

This gives me hope. Just three more years to go 😂

cannynotsay · 30/07/2026 22:06

I was pregnant for most of 3, having a sibling has humbled her but she is still so persistent and dislikes taking no for an answer and wants her own way alllll the time. Starts school in September so let’s see where that takes her! She’s bloody amazing too and funny! I adore her and hope she becomes a great leader one day!

ConflictofInterest · 30/07/2026 22:03

I have an absolutely wonderful 15 year old DD who was an utter nightmare at 3 (and 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...) because she wanted to be in charge of everything and do everything by herself without help. By the time she was 3 she used to cry when it was a mummy day and not a nursery day, I ended up going back to work full time just to keep her happy. She's still fiercely independent but she's turned into a confident and sensible teenager now that she can have the freedom she always wanted. Even if I do sometimes come home from work to find I'm locked out of the kitchen as she's decided she's cooking the family dinner tonight and doesn't want interruptions! I do think being strong willed is a good trait for girls and worth encouraging even though it's hard work when they're little.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 30/07/2026 22:02

Sausagessss · 30/07/2026 16:13

School helps 😬

This
is have 2 boys and 1 girl
girls are “higher maintenance” when younger mine is now 10 and we have a fab relationship x

Ophy83 · 30/07/2026 22:00

An imaginative little thing who was always in character and the rest of us just had to fit in and be whatever character she wanted.. DH usually got the good roles like Flynn Rider abd the Gruffalo while I was frequently Mother Gothel or the Stepmother from Cinderella! (That one was quite fun as I would tell her to sweep the floor which she would do, happily grumbling about what a terrible "Stepmother" she had!)

kidseatfree · 30/07/2026 21:36

I wasn’t totally sure whether that post was a bit of a windup or not tbh 👀

No choices has never worked here - you just get no to everything. Blue shoes or pink ones NO SHOES right then!

Weirdly, where it does work is with my stroppy year 8s. ‘Leo, you and Jake just don’t work well together. So look, would you rather sit with Evie and Olivia or over here, by the door?’
’Door! I ain’t sitting with them!’ (Evie and Olivia sigh in relief.)

While had I said ‘Leo, sit here by the door please’ there would have been no end of arguments. It’s the illusion of control. But my three year old doesn’t want an illusion!

OP posts:
Kingdomofsleep · 30/07/2026 21:32

The choice thing isn't a magic bullet. My DS wasn't even 2yo when it started going like this:
We need to go out. Shoes-on time.
Don't WANT to go out!
Want to wear your dinosaur shoes or green sandals?
NO SHOES, I TOLD YOU?!

I don't think there is a magic bullet honestly. Just endurance. It'll get better eventually...!

Thickasabrick89 · 30/07/2026 21:26

Fortnightly · 30/07/2026 16:09

Really lovely. She loved her food, watching Peppa Pig, playing with dolls and playdoh, making cookies and painting. She also liked me to read her lots and lots of books.

I can’t remember any bad moments tbh. She was a very lovely child but I did give her all my attention when not at work, so I think that helped her be a good girl all day.

Come off it🤣 especially that last sentence 🤣. There's someone stressing about her feral daughter and you're blabbing out nonsense.

If you're genuine and not a total troll/wind up merchant, then I assume the only reason she was 'a good girl all day' when you were at work where she patiently waited for you to come home is because her demeanor is shy, timid and incredibly willing to please.

OP an independent child is a pain as they are somewhat ahead of the curve and can think for themselves/have strong opinions but it will be good once she's an adult and can stand up for herself.

Wyldemint · 30/07/2026 21:23

This is SO normal - she’s just flexing her muscles for the first time, finding out what she can control….

Do NOT let tantrums get to you, or they will get worse, because they learn that they work! Just stay breezy, present, don’t take it personally. Pretend she isn’t screaming at full volume ;)

Regarding choice: give the illusion of choice:

Would you like Elsa or Anna, or no dolly?

Would you like the pink dress, the blue dress, or mummy chooses?

Would you like to leave the park in ten minutes or right now?

It’s honestly fantastic that you have such a wilful girl; this world NEEDS more wilful girls who don’t stand for society’s crap!

Hang on in there. You are doing a great job x

DizziLizzy · 30/07/2026 21:23

I had a naughty two year old but then a near on perfect 3 year old. She only became a little testing again at 16. All kids are different and the toddler to school age can be tiresome!

SoMuch2Say · 30/07/2026 21:13

Fortnightly · 30/07/2026 16:09

Really lovely. She loved her food, watching Peppa Pig, playing with dolls and playdoh, making cookies and painting. She also liked me to read her lots and lots of books.

I can’t remember any bad moments tbh. She was a very lovely child but I did give her all my attention when not at work, so I think that helped her be a good girl all day.

Hahaha

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/07/2026 21:09

Fortnightly · 30/07/2026 16:09

Really lovely. She loved her food, watching Peppa Pig, playing with dolls and playdoh, making cookies and painting. She also liked me to read her lots and lots of books.

I can’t remember any bad moments tbh. She was a very lovely child but I did give her all my attention when not at work, so I think that helped her be a good girl all day.

Ditto

mini blondes would play nicely with the above Look at books. Still napped and this was Covid times so didn’t do /see anyone really for 3mths +

Shatenoeuf · 30/07/2026 21:08

Stubborn AF and basically a little foot stamping madam!!