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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 3 is a hell of a lot harder than the "terrible" twos?

49 replies

smokinaces · 02/06/2011 09:36

Oh My God.

I remember DS1 being difficult at 3, but think I blamed it all on having an 18mo as well.

But DS2 was 3 in March and I am pulling my hair out.

He is cheeky and loving, but my god he is antagonising, bullying, argumentative, destructive, disobediant and such hard work. And he knows exactly how to wind his 5yo brother up.

Tell me it gets easier. Please. Terrible twos are nothing on this! AIBU to think the terrible twos are just a warm up for the Terrifically Tiresome Threes?!

OP posts:
ziggyf · 02/06/2011 09:37

I'm having a nightmare with my 3 year old too at the moment - he's being horrid! I just wish he would LISTEN! Argh.

So, no. YANBU.

Reality · 02/06/2011 09:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AllThreeWays · 02/06/2011 09:48

With my daughter I always said that terrible twos was a myth and and that it was terrible threes.
I think it is because they are so much cleverer at being naughty at three

shirleyshortcut · 02/06/2011 09:48

sorry but wait till they get to 15, 16 & 17, you will long for the terrible 2s and 3s

aldiwhore · 02/06/2011 09:52

Threes are definitely harder than twos.

My youngest is ahem aserting his individuality to great affect. As well as the normal threeness he's also learned a lot from his older brother. I'm trying to stick with a calm but firm approach but ARRRGH!!!

He's a cutie, and I do think there's a reason why 3 yr old ARE cute!

He constructs good arguments it has to be said, and his floor routine would get 9's all round. He's generally a 'good child' however once he's on the road to tantrumville there's little you can do to stop it and differently to his older brother if you ignore him, it only gets worse.

He listens, agrees, then does the exact opposite.

Doesn't help that he's an absolute angel at pre-school, so it must just be me!

Original poster
smokinaces · 02/06/2011 09:53

Shirley, dont say that! I'm hoping being boys they will turn into teenage lads that just sleep all day and grunt.

I'm being disillusional arent I!?!?

OP posts:
5318008 · 02/06/2011 10:09

hahahahaha another one saying just you WAIT til they are 10 and 12

no, really, I agree, 3 is DEADLY

you have my sympathies

aldiwhore · 02/06/2011 10:11

I'm finding that 7 year old is just lovely! I assume that's purely to lull me into a false sense of security?

I was a nightmare teen, I hope my kids have more of their dad's genes because he was lovely apparantly.

sausagesandmarmelade · 02/06/2011 10:12

The tantrums can be horrendous!!!!

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 02/06/2011 10:14

3 is much worse than 2. At 2, they throw tantrums physically. At 3, they can use their fearsome minds.

PacificDogwood · 02/06/2011 10:15

YAsooooooNBU!

DS3 is 3.2 and terrorises everybody and everything in his reach.
This started when he was 16 months old...

Oh, and yes, 7 and 8 is lovely Smile, even after 4-5 they turn into quite entertaining little people with the ability to express themselves with words - and they tend to throw less stuff when in a huff Wink.

shirleyshortcut · 02/06/2011 10:15

oh mine was an angel until he was 15, then he turned into a horrible Kevin Patterson overnight - gladly he has turned nice again now :)

Groovee · 02/06/2011 10:15

traumatic 3's we called them here

glassofwhiteanybody · 02/06/2011 10:16

I found 3 harder than 2. At 3 they're more determined how they want to do things and less easily distracted

CatIsSleepy · 02/06/2011 10:18

dd1 was appalling at 3 and pretty terrible at 4

getting more reasonable at 5 but still with stroppy interludes...

got it all to look forward to with dd2 Grin

KaraStarbuckThrace · 02/06/2011 10:21

come and join us on this thread then
YADNBU!! Some one on the above thread coined the term 'threenager' Grin

PacificDogwood · 02/06/2011 10:21

Oooh, I love 'Traumatic 3' and will need to steal it, Groovee.

And, yes, remind me, why did I choose to do it all again (DS4 14 months)?? Wink

olibeansmummy · 02/06/2011 10:26

oh god, don't say that, ds was only 2 last week and is already seriously hard work!

sheepgomeep · 02/06/2011 10:29

dd2 was an angel at 2 and 3 but oh i am so paying for my smugness now she has reached the fearsome fours. I swear she changed overnight the minute she hit four.

treesinthebreeze · 02/06/2011 10:38

2 was pretty bad and 3 was just bloody awful! 4 seems to be slightly better....but only just.

EssexGurl · 02/06/2011 10:45

DS was a lovely toddler and DH and I congratulated ourselves on not having a "terrible two's" little boy. Then he hit 3 and all hell broke loose. It was harder as he was bigger, stronger and it was verbal as well as physical. DD has just turned 2 and she is a stroppy little madam. God help us if this is going to be a "good" year!!!

lljkk · 02/06/2011 10:49

3yo DS spent 45 min. tantrumming this morning because I made him get dressed and wouldn't let him eat on my lap (latest big issue, sigh).

Chandon · 02/06/2011 10:54

when my DSs were 3 and 5 it was just getting a bit easier, and from then on it got progressively easier day by day.

Now they are 6 and 8, and I guess they are playing happily (knock wood) have not seen them yet today!!!

happy days Smile

GentleOtter · 02/06/2011 10:58

Oh God, are they the 'fearsome fours'?

We only have a couple of weeks left of threenager and are wondering if we have a changeling. He was sweet and cuddly this morning then sidled up 'to wipe his germs on me'.
Strops are had for using the wrong spoon, bowl, socks and he has started climbing in beside us again at night. Noisily.

FreudianSlipper · 02/06/2011 11:12

we passed trough the terrible two's ok and once he could talk he stopped. then they started again much longer and louder :( its all about not getting his own way now and makes ridiculous demands. screamed for 20 minutes becasue i would not pick up his car he was playing with in his bedroom, actually came to get me from teh kitchen to make this demand

this morning it was because he wanted 4 weetabix not 2