There's no such thing as a well behaved three year old

[TerribleThreees]

OK so perhaps there is, but I'd love to be told that they're all little horrors and it's a phase they all go through. It might make me feel a bit better about my day!

My DD has been hellish today. There was tantrum after whinge after tantrum, she was being rude to strangers in supermarkets who kindly asked her what the matter was. She was screeching like a banshee around said supermarket when i wouldn't buy her every request, completely defiant and non compliant all day. To top it off she was extremely rude about a gentleman on the bus who she had to sit next to (it was the only seat left) and the poor bloke had to listen to her exclaiming that she doesn't like that man and doesn't want to sit next to him.

I don't know what has gotten into her, she used to be so mild mannered and polite and it's actually quite embarrassing.

Needless to say such behaviour doesn't go unchecked.

Anybody else care to share their stories of their obnoxious pre schoolers or am I unreasonable and just have a little horror 🤔

It really does sound like standard 3 year old behaviour, they have no social filters at that age. Mine could be horrid at 3 but grew into good, caring adults (it just took a long time!)

Oh god I feel your pain!
toddlers are the worst, mine likes to say things like ‘don’t pinch me’ when it’s actually her we have to remind not to pinch because it isn’t nice… the looks I get….

Threenagers

Some are more compliant most of the time but yeah most of them have phases of being absolutely nightmarish!

My DD was an absolute angel when she was 3. She's been a dream all her life and is now in her late teens. My boys, however? FML.

My three year old today too.

Also she's completely defiant against any type of potty training, as well as dressing herself. She also can't read yet and still has a dummy.

I've heard so many stories this week of children younger than her breezing through such things. I'm just feeling like an absolutely shit parent right now, because every day I try so hard to engage her with everything but I'm obviously not doing something right. I don't know how make myself better.

Sorry, didn't mean to derail your thread, I just needed a moan and to let you know your not alone

My darling son is about to turn three and has only just started the tantrums. I thought we had maybe missed it but noooooo
full on meltdowns most evenings with added in screaming at the top of his lungs.
I do find it a bit upsetting because he is usually such a good boy and this is something that I’m just not used to yet.

My DD was an angel child and still is. I also now have 2 boys. No comment.

Your DD sounds just like mine

The potty training is becoming an issue, nursery are insisting she's ready but nope she's not having any of it.

Solidarity 🙏

Ever since mine turned 3, she has been awfully behaved! Every morning, whinging and crying, go to work and she goes to nursery and is fine, get home, more whinging and crying! Won’t eat anything, has been potty trained for months but is having accidents again. It is a literal nightmare. She was ok at 2, a few tantrums but nothing on this level, and I’m now pregnant again after swearing I’d never have another one. If she had been like this a few months ago no way would I have had another! But it was like a switch flipped overnight!

Oh and also, potty training took ageeeeees with her and she still isn’t for poos. And I agree with PP that so many other kids breeze through things and she has no interest in learning anything no matter how hard I try!

I’ve got 3 kids.

First two were hard work at 3.

My third was an absolute dream child sent from up above. He’s 7 now and still an utter delight.

I really hope most of them are little terrors cause it makes me feel better.

My DS has a tantrum for every nappy change but isn't quite ready for toilet training, every time he has to get dressed/undressed, if I don't buy him a toy every time we go to asda(I've had to stop taking him), any other time he deems that I'm being the worst parent ever and he'll just scream "no mummy" over and over and over again. I know he'll grow out of it and it's part of their development, but good God, it's bloody hard.

Also, a PP mentioned their child can't read. Are three year olds supposed to?! Cause mine isn't anywhere near close!

Phew, thank god it's not just me.

I knew terrible 2's was a thing but she breezed right through being 2, she was such a sweet little girl and couldn't do enough to please people.

It was a pleasure to take her shopping as she'd walk alongside me helping me put things in my basket. Any request was met with gleeful willingness.

Like PP said its like a switch has flicked overnight when she turned 3😐

Dd1 was the most well behaved child ever. I remember her only once stamping her foot when she was cross. She has dgs who is almost three who is just like she was for me but an absolute devil for dd1. I sympathise with dd regularly, I can't offer her any tips though as I have no idea why he behaves for me other than when I have him I am able to give him my full attention whereas obviously dd has lots of stuff to juggle.

Yeah to be honest I would say that my 3 year old is pretty well behaved generally ‘but has his moments’. They’re all the same. All have phases.

One minute he’s living his best life like the golden child he is, and the next he’s screaming at me because It took me more than 0.5 seconds to sort him a crumpet.

My granddaughter is the most well behaved child I've ever encountered. She is so perfrctly behaved it's almost unbelievable - she is 4 and has only ever had one strop over not having fish fingers for lunch, a one minute hissy fit that was more eye rolling and huffing.

She is known as model child at Pre - School, they utterly adore her and she has been like this since she could crawl.

Her 2 boy cousins however , 4 and 6, totally fucking ferral and have been since toddlers ..:-)

Yep, think they're all rotten at this age OP. I don't take mine to supermarkets or on public transport for that very reason.

I don't think "defiant" is the correct description. Start using "doesn't like change", "feeling anxious", "needs autonomy"

They don't get much say in any part of their lives, it's hardly surprising they get emotionally overwhelmed.

It's sad isn't it that we label them negatively?

Bloody exhausting being a parent!!

Are 3 year olds meant to be able to read? Mine can recognise their name written down but nothing else. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Do any of your children behave remarkably well at nursery/pre school and reserve their 'spirited' behaviour for you?

Much like your dgd, Wakey, DD is a model child at nursery. So much so the nursery manager borrows her (at no charge to myself) whenever there's a new starter because she's so welcoming and friendly. They don't believe me when I tell them that the version they get is NOT the version we get at home 😄

Apparently I was a delightful 3ro and my DD was too. But I was a shocking teenager so....

Haha, they know when to turn it on don't they? My DGG will probably go nuclear as a teenager god help her parents :-)

She's pretty good with change although needing autonomy definitely fits her. She's fiercely independent and wants to be in control of everything related to her, traits I'm sure will serve her well later on down the line just not when we're in a supermarket or on the bus 😄

Mine were feral.