Page 4 | To ask mums of girls aged four plus

kidseatfree · 2026-07-30T15:01:14+00:00

If you have a mostly lovely DD, what was she like at three? (am in a bit of despair here!)

BumblebeesandPaperbags · 30/07/2026 16:40

Three was our worst year.

My DD is in uni now and is absolutely delightful. Genuinely kind, wickedly funny, extremely thoughtful.

Hang on in there.

ItalianChineseIndianMexican · 30/07/2026 16:37

People talk of the terrible twos but I remember the threes being a whole lot worse!!
DD was loud, bossy, demanding, wanted to be independent (even with things she blatantly couldn't do), definitely wanted her own way.
I'd say it got better at 4... even better at 5... a delight by 6 (and beyond!).

Manasprey · 30/07/2026 16:35

kidseatfree · 30/07/2026 16:29

Ah thanks all … she’s sounding similar to yours @englandd ! So bloody bossy and controlling. Argumentative as hell (oh good, it’s swimming tomorrow MY NOT SWIMMING TOMORROW!) Will not take no for an answer without a big argument. Hoping four may be easier!

One swimming lesson when dd was about 6 is also part of her legend. She sat on the side and refused to get in. She had been going regularly.
The teacher was fairly young and was going to let her sit there.... until i marched across the poolside, bollocked dd and told her she was damn well going to get in.
Then I sat on the balcony and waved cheerfully at her, every time she tried to sob at me from the pool. She ended up staying on to do lifesaving etc and loves swimming abroad in the sea.

It was effectively a battle of wills for about 7 years. But mine was stronger.

Original poster

kidseatfree · 30/07/2026 16:29

Ah thanks all … she’s sounding similar to yours @englandd ! So bloody bossy and controlling. Argumentative as hell (oh good, it’s swimming tomorrow MY NOT SWIMMING TOMORROW!) Will not take no for an answer without a big argument. Hoping four may be easier!

OP posts:

pinksheetss · 30/07/2026 16:26

Age 3/4 has been more challenging for me than baby years but honestly I can’t fully complain.
She’s very sensitive and gets upset and cries and says I’m so sorry over and over again and sometimes I just wish she’d get a little bit of a back bone.
If her friends don’t share with her or say something bad she sulks and cries and I worry other kids won’t like her. I already see her get pushed aside sometimes in groups especially from boys

TheyGrewUp · 30/07/2026 16:21

Clingy. Unless part of her was touching me, she cried.

Now a fully functioning adult.

englandd · 30/07/2026 16:21

I have a very intelligent and bossy 3 year old girl 😁

Manasprey · 30/07/2026 16:19

Legendary in her awfulness. I used to feel so guilty and bad for ds1. She was wilful and controlling. Didn't line to sleep alone.

Nursery and school reports all a dream.

Calmed down around 7ish. Fab teenager.

2UselessCats · 30/07/2026 16:19

Ah gosh she was an arsehole! Didn’t have actual tantrums but was stroppy and obstinate and didn’t listen till the age of about 4. Once in school full time, it’s a huge change as their vocabulary grows overnight too. DD is now 8 and just lovely with only a sprinkling of foolishness now and again!

Is there anything specific that’s worrying you about your DD?

hahabahbag · 30/07/2026 16:16

Nightmare, she’s a fully functioning adult now who is mostly nice to be around, and is autistic though so wasn’t plain sailing

Peachpearplumb · 30/07/2026 16:14

My 8 year old was a nightmare until she started school. Not long to go 🤞

ThatJadeLion · 30/07/2026 16:13

My daughter is lovely, many moments of loveliness in each day. But wow is she naturally born feisty. She is slightly easier now she is 4 and credit to her, now relatively easy taking her out of the house. 2 and 3 were challenging.

Sausagessss · 30/07/2026 16:13

School helps 😬

Original poster

kidseatfree · 30/07/2026 16:12

Sausagessss · 30/07/2026 16:11

Bloody gruelling at 3.

7+ has been lovely!

Oh god another four years to go 🤦🏻‍♀️ 😂

OP posts:

Sausagessss · 30/07/2026 16:11

Bloody gruelling at 3.

7+ has been lovely!

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.