Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm saying the two's is the worst age!?

133 replies

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 26/09/2023 19:15

My DS. Exactly 2 and half, is just so hard work. It's exhausting.
He's super needy, whingy, resistant, there's absolutely zero reasoning, he's persistent, impatient and just naughty!!

I dread taking him out on his reins these days. I just thought I'd take him and the dog on a nice walk. How * wrong was I!?
Persistent on going the other direction so he will pull and end up twisting round on the reins and go all floppy and resistent. Can't get his own way so he will sit on the floor just scream for ages. A woman even opened her front door to see what was happening! It's embarrassing! I passed 2 other people who made comments "oh dear, someone playing you up".... "been there before love"
Ahhhhhhh 😩 I just wanted to scream.

I HATE the 'terrible twos' I can't wait til it's over
Please please tell me I've not got much longer of these vile tantrums to go 🙏🏻

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 26/09/2023 19:43

Don't worry OP, you're getting your child's demon years out of the way early! He'll be a delightful child and teen.

It's the ones with sweet, problem free toddlers who need to worry!

nadine90 · 26/09/2023 19:47

12 has been the hardest up to now but we’ve still got all the teens to go 😫

BertieBotts · 26/09/2023 19:48

No, YABU, 2 is the best age ever.

6-9 month olds that are frustrated they can't crawl yet, and 3-5 year olds who have all the logic and none of the sense are the worst ages.

toomuchforonewoman · 26/09/2023 19:48

15 was the absolute pits. I was wishing for the 2's back!

AllAboardTootToot · 26/09/2023 19:49

Crotch goblins at most ages, it’s just your luck which age it kicks in at!

hang in there ❤️

Covidwoes · 26/09/2023 19:51

@MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy I currently have a 5 year old and a 2 year 8 month old. I agree, two is HARD. The 5 year old may have attitude at times, but she doesn't want to sit down in the middle of the road, I can trust her to drink from a glass (ie much less likely to drop it!) and can be reasoned with.

itonlyhappensonce · 26/09/2023 19:51

megletthesecond · 26/09/2023 19:18

I give you Threenagers.........

Yeah this is me. I thought 2 was hard. And then we got to 3......

EveSix · 26/09/2023 19:52

I'd chew your hand off for the problems of having a 2-year old. I raise you an 11 yea..., no wait ‐a 12 year old, no scratch that; 13 is turning me grey and losing me a stone so far...

CoodleMoodle · 26/09/2023 19:53

DD was an angel at 2. From 18mo until about 3.5, actually. She walked nicely next to me, never had a tantrum, agreed with everything I said... Then preschool sassiness kicked in! She can still be sassy now at 9, tbh.

DS was an angelic baby and then morphed into an absolute beast when he turned 18mo! He remained a total demon (but a cute one) until last year. When he was 4. It's been tough!

justanothermummma · 26/09/2023 19:56

I have a 5yo and 2yo and it's the 5yo who is the most difficult to manage, they are more independent BUT their behaviour is more challenging.

Every kid is different and each age is a whole new ball game!

Amammai · 26/09/2023 19:56

I found 2 with both my boys hard. Other ages have been hard too BUT 2 I definitely found the worst overall. Once my son was nearer 3 with a lot more lmaguage, I found everything so much easier! He’s now 6 and can still push my buttons but he can mostly now be reasonable and understand what I’m saying 😂 It does get easier and it’s fine not to love every stage x

BertieBotts · 26/09/2023 19:56

I do think some of it is expectations though - I think you can't realistically use walking as a form of transport for a 2yo. If I want them to go in a specific direction, then I use a buggy or sling. I only let them walk when I don't mind exactly where we go and/or when I don't mind how long it takes to get there.

I think it helps to see those as two separate things with a 2yo. It's either transport in which case I'm transporting them, because they have no sense of urgency, self-preservation, straight lines, etc. Or it's exploration, which 2yos love, but which will never lead anywhere specific.

So I think perhaps, I understand 2yos. I don't understand 3-5yos, and that is why they vex me so.

thetrainatplatform4 · 26/09/2023 19:59

I'm a single mum with twins going through the terrible twos - the anarchy and defiance is mind blowing - I feel like I'm in training for a role with United Nations peacekeeping or hostage negotiating 😂

I have an older child too and the "fuck it 4s" was horrendous - I may just move into the shed when the twins hit 4

TheBirdintheCave · 26/09/2023 20:00

So far for us every stage has its plusses and minuses. My son is nearly three now and he seems to just improve with age (though can also be a goblin child at times!).

It was brilliant this morning when he excitedly brought me my birthday card and said 'I brought you a letter, mummy!' 😬

Ienjoyedthebarbiemovie · 26/09/2023 20:01

What you don’t know can’t hurt you 😬🙈

Tiswa · 26/09/2023 20:03

I had a lovely period between 4-12 with DD and 4-10 with DS and then puberty hit.

and I would take 2 back! And least I could control the attitude and tantrums

Ladyoftheknight · 26/09/2023 20:11

I'm pregnant, have a 1, 3, 4, and 6 year old. I like them all except the 6 year old rn. 2 was a walk in the park compared to this 16yo my child has been replaced with. Tantrums, fads, obsessions with certain toys and serious attitude when asked to do anything.

OhMelville · 26/09/2023 20:13

What is bedtime like for you OP? I have the same thing with my 2.5 year old!

ValancyRedfern · 26/09/2023 20:14

Dd is 9 and for me, every year has been easier than the one before. This may change once puberty hits! For the worst age was definitely 0; I found the baby days relentlessly awful.

Cantbebotheredwithausername · 26/09/2023 20:15

I'll be beheaded for this... But... I have a boy who just turned two. And I think this age is adorable. Yes, he has meltdowns and tantrums. But he's so cute and funny most of the time. Discovering the world around him, how to use words and language. Finding more ways to use and play with objects. Wants to tell me so much about the world around him - the amazement at new things. At the same time he just needs and adores his parents so much, seeking hugs, cuddles, comfort and reassurance. Even when he is furiously "tantruming", it's just about 30 seconds, then he'll happily accept a hug and the tears and screaming stops. Then he's just a sweet child again, hugging and cuddling his mum. Yes, he can be tiring and a handful, but most of the time I'm really enjoying it.

thetrainatplatform4 · 26/09/2023 20:16

@Ladyoftheknight

Yes! My 6/7 year old seems to have had a personality transplant- I feel like I've turned into a complete shouty mum but she doesn't seem to give a shit

Ohforfox · 26/09/2023 20:18

10 is killing me ... one eye roll at a time.

Bartlebum · 26/09/2023 20:21

Lol! Just you wait...

You have to find the good in every age, or find the bad in every age. Yes it's hard but it doesn't get easier. You are perfectly welcome to find it exhausting and draining - it is. But that's parenthood unfortunately. My youngest is two and her tantrums are much more wonderful than anything I see from the older two.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 26/09/2023 20:28

I'd swap a two your PJs for the year I had when my Dd was 15 any day if the week.

Fingers crossed she seems to be coming out if it but gosh, it was tough.

nopuppiesallowed · 26/09/2023 20:33

My son was lovely from the moment he was born (and still is). He was super bright but terminally lazy.(which drove me nuts!) until he left university and realised he'd have to put in some work if he wanted to earn good money. My middle one (a daughter), didn't sleep until she was 2 and once left tooth marks in my backside when I was ignoring her. As a teenager, she was rude (but nothing like as bad as I've read on here! She'd been brought up on "I tell you once. I tell you twice. And the third time you'll have a smack, so was wary of pushing me too far!). My youngest daughter was an angelic toddler, a gorgeous child but quite often drove me nuts when she hit her teenage years. So for me, apart from the non sleeper, the early years were lovely. Our children knew the rules from their earliest years and rarely pushed me too far. I actually found their teenage years frustrating, but no more than that. And I adore all 3 now they're adults!