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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:
coxesorangepippin · 26/09/2023 20:34

It's the journey, not the destination

SocialistSally · 26/09/2023 20:35

😂😂, no Teenagers!

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 26/09/2023 20:38

Nope, it's three. Actual goblins.

BusySittingDown · 26/09/2023 20:41

My DD1 was a little sweetheart at 2 but I found the incessant talking draining sometimes. She was absolutely hilarious though.

DD2 however, was an absolute sod! As a baby she never slept and from about 18 months she would refuse to go in the pushchair, wouldn't wear a coat. She would have full on, lying at the side of the road, kicking and screaming tantrums. The school run was hell. She wouldn't go in the pushchair - was a Houdini and would climb out of the straps as I walked so I'd have to stop every two seconds to strap her back in. Wouldn't hold my hand, tantrums at having the reins on, didn't want to be carried and didn't want to walk either. Most school runs would end with me restraining a kicking, screaming toddler into a fireman's lift over my shoulder. No wonder none of the other school mums spoke to me! 😂 Oh yes, I got my comeuppance for being smug that DD1 was so good!

I'm glad to say that she mellowed at 3. She was still stubborn and strong willed.

She's nearly 13 now and she's one of the sweetest, loveliest people you could meet. We have a real giggle at the stories that I tell her about her being a little bugger as she can't remember.

She still never wears a coat though (but now we know that it's because she gets hot).

margotmargeaux · 26/09/2023 20:43

SocialistSally · 26/09/2023 20:35

😂😂, no Teenagers!

This!
My 18 year old is worse than ever at the moment. And I can't send him to bed anymore!

Bunnybigears · 26/09/2023 20:44

Don't worry OP. They could be 15 and may or may not have got their girlfriend pregnant, may or may not be taking drugs and most definitely have told their teacher to fuck off.

IDontLikeMondays88 · 26/09/2023 20:44

2 is not that bad. 3 is awful

BusySittingDown · 26/09/2023 20:45

Btw, DD1 never had a tantrum when she was little. Now she's 16 and she can tantrum with the best of 'em. Grin

zeibesaffron · 26/09/2023 20:51

16-17 (my Dd is currently 17) has been by far the toughest - attitude issues, sex, boyfriend issues/ breakups, low self esteem, eating issues, crap friends, out till late etc…

LittlePlumTree · 26/09/2023 20:52

Definitely not the worst

VivaVivaa · 26/09/2023 20:52

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.

I couldn’t agree with this more!

lochmaree · 26/09/2023 20:52

2 was fine but finding 3 really hard!

uuughhhshsh · 26/09/2023 20:55

I have a 2 and a 4 year old.

The 2 year old is a piece of piss, the 4 year old is the devil incarnate.

2yo has tantrums but they are pretty laughable in comparison to the psychotic attitude of the 4yo. I need this stage to be done.

Notsuredontknow · 26/09/2023 20:56

We had some AWFUL tantrums at 2 but despite that I loved the age, I really saw her personality coming through and loved the little conversations we were starting to have. I hope you get some of that side soon, it really does help balance out the difficult times!

MadKittenWoman · 26/09/2023 21:02

3 is much worse as they can have a reasoned argument!

WithoutYou · 26/09/2023 21:06

I loved the toddler years but they were definitely the most challenging.

Some parents love to scare others saying it gets worse but it's not been the case for us. Nothing has compared to the toddler years. 😅

trulyunruly01 · 26/09/2023 21:09

I give you my theory, and hope it brings comfort.
If you have difficult pre-schoolers, you will have fabulous teenagers.
If you have fabulous pre-schoolers, beware the teenage years!

Lindy2 · 26/09/2023 21:10

13 - 15 years. By far the hardest so far.

I'd go back to age 2 in a heartbeat.

Florenceatemycake · 26/09/2023 21:11

I hate the 2s. Just awful.

My 3 year old is now a total dream though.

Everything passes (is what I constantly repeat to myself).

Purplerain0505 · 26/09/2023 21:14

I found age 2 was awful. And age 3 was utter hell. It got better around 4.5 and now I have the most wonderful 5 year old.

Lemonademoney · 26/09/2023 21:15

All mine have been different. Oldest realllyyy difficult baby, dream child, Angel. Second one was a dream from day one (always said I’d have a dozen if they were all like him 🤣) third was hard up until 5 but we then realised he had dietary allergies which explains rather a lot bless him and my littlest was a dream baby but then a flipping nightmare age 2-4 just coming out of it now and this lovely, friendly sociable child has suddenly emerged and I am here for every second of it 😂😂😂

DontLeanOnTheKeyboard · 26/09/2023 21:15

Mine are 17 and 18…hold my pint…

Angrymum22 · 26/09/2023 21:24

DS turned 19 on Fri. I can honestly say he has had his moments but behaviour wise 14-16 was awful. They stop communicating, although you can use food as a reward and they will chat via text.
I think as a parent overall the hardest thing ever was the first drive solo after passing his driving test. Followed by the lack of sleep when they are out out till 5am.
I have a year’s reprieve because he’s having a gap year before Uni but I have friends whose children have gone this year and they are struggling.
I never had sleep deprivation when DS was a toddler. I never worried about him as much as I do now.
Enjoy every shitty minute of the toddler years, revel in the school drop off and pick up because all too soon you will be stuck at home wondering where the time went. In the plus side though they are good at helping properly around the house. I came home tonight to a vacuumed house and an empty dishwasher. And when they start communicating again around 17 they are really fun to be around.

Pacificisolated · 26/09/2023 22:10

My DD is now 2 years and 10 months and I have been amazed that in the last few weeks we can reason with her far more. Your DS may improve soon 😂

NoNeedToHurry · 26/09/2023 22:14

Now mine are all teenagers I yearn for the toddler days 🤣