to be upset that my child has been described as soemtimes

[yummypopcorn]

boisterous??

If you can't be boisterous when you are 2.5 then when can you! My girls are 6 and 3 and I like it when they are girlsterous as it's always when they are having the most FUN.

2 year old boys are supposed to be boisterous!

I think boisterous at 2.5 is just fine. Boisterous at age 5 and above however is code for unruly, unpleasant and spoilt

Me neither!!

Oh right - agree with that

I keep thinking what people wonder about my DS (2.8). He really is a lovely boy but at toddler group I let him run around and blow off steam, thats the point. He is lively and energetic (without being annoying and spiteful like 1 or 2) and I think its fab!!

Just the other day he picked up my foot with my cow slipper on and pointed at my cousin going "moooo mooooo" It was soooo funny. Children need to have character. Just turned around to see DS randomly trying to stand on his head. Give me a spirited child anyday.

Everything can be taken as criticism. My 2 year old was described as 'bright and thoughtful'. In my particularly paranoid head that I had on that day, I thought 'what are you trying to say? that he isn't a fun, boisterous boy?!!'

No!! They were just saying something they'd noticed at that moment. He has his moments of 2 year old crazy and moments of bright and moments of thoughtful. As I am sure your ds does. Comments about kids are mainly just small talk/conversation anyway - no harm intended.

It depends how it was said...

If that comment plus the "monkey" comment were made as a critisism I would probably ask if they were finding your boys a problem.

I dont think a nursey should have a problem with a boisterious 2.5 yo and a baby who takes 40 mins to settle! if they are then find another nursery.

If it was just said as general conversation dont worry about it.

DS is sometimes described as boisterous. Seeing above comments has made me feel better about it!

hmc It depends on the context IMO. If an over 5 year old is well behaved at school but then comes home and has a boisterous half hour running round the garden/house with siblings and being noisy, that is boisterous, but it isn't "unruly, unpleasant and spoilt" if it is upsetting no one.

Bloody hell, I hope you're able to get over such trauma, yummy. A boisterous baby boy; people can be so cruel sometimes, can't they?

It's the pause that does it...

'He's so... [long pause] boisterous'

'She's so...[long pause] lively'

My 5 year old DD is often decsribed as 'spirited' and 'strong willed'. Its better than 'drippy' if you ask me. Anyway, those prefect kids now will be nightmare teenagers you just watch.

I like kids with a bit of fire.

I especially like little girls who know what they want and brook no bullshit. My DS1 ran into one of those the other, did him good.

"Its better than 'drippy' if you ask me" Couldn't agree more!

I know a 3 year old who I would describe as 'drippy'. His mum boasts proudly how he is stood quietly "playing so beautifully". I don't think I have ever seen him smile, let alone run around.

My DS gets called a lot worse, too.

Boisterous is good! Especiaaly at that age!!