Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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:
CaptainJackSparrow85 · 26/09/2023 22:18

I found 2.5-3 really, really hard with mine (boy, I don’t know if maybe boys are more likely to have the classic terrible twos?!) But found things got exponentially better after 3, and better still after 3.5. Love 4.

But we haven’t hit the pre-teen/teenage years yet.

MrsBlondie · 26/09/2023 22:22

12-13 - 100x worse than 2

MarchingOnTogether · 26/09/2023 22:27

DS is now 14, he was a bit of a turd around 3/4 and as a teen he's a lazy turd but he's never been majorly difficult.
DD has been hard work since the age of 3! 2 was probably the easiest age with her!! She's now 12 and there hasn't been an easy age since then!
I do find 12-18m is often the hardest age with my minded children but that's largely due to separation anxiety. By 2 I find their personalities are starting to develop, some are very easy and others can be exceptionally hard work!

Conniethecatapillar · 26/09/2023 22:28

I like the theory that if they are crap toddlers then the teenage years aren't so bad.

I'm really clinging onto this as my first was awful and so is my second. I've always relied on this logic and hope it comes true!

TogetherWeLearn · 26/09/2023 22:32

I know it can feel relentless when they are little (and being unreasonable) but they are also bloody cute and snuggly at that age. Mine (teens) love to watch videos back of themselves & we all laugh at their silly and sometimes naughty behaviour caught in camera.

You soon forget how they were when they were little & parenting at every age has its challenges & rewards.

Excited101 · 26/09/2023 22:34

That’s why buggy’s are invented! They start playing up, you bung them in- gives you both a breather!

Original poster
MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 27/09/2023 08:41

OhMelville · 26/09/2023 20:13

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

Bedtime is hit and miss. I think he's dropping his day time naps which could be having an impact on his behaviour too.
If he has no nap in the day then bedtime seems easier as he's tired so he will go down fine. If he's had a nap though it's a late and reluctant bedtime

He's woke up this morning, refusing to come downstairs, then once I'd managed to get him to the stairs he was taking a couple steps then fighting to go back up I had to just grab him in the end and walk down with him, which he doesn't like.
I think a lot of it is he's wanting to be independent and do what HE wants but how dare I say otherwise 🤣

I absolutely love him more than anything in the world though he's got his cute, cuddly moments and he's so clever I'm so proud of him. It's just these tantrums seem to be getting worse, it's tough!

OP posts:
Original poster
MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 27/09/2023 08:42

The replies I see don't seem to mention 7-10 year olds much so those must be the golden child years!? 😆

OP posts:
MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 27/09/2023 08:45

Mine were far easier as toddlers than teens.

Mind you my friend had hard toddlers who are a dream as teenagers.

Maybe they're only hard at one age.

Helpusg · 27/09/2023 08:45

15-17. Sorry OP.

thefinaltwist · 27/09/2023 08:47

Preteens is the worst 😫

Ikeepmybumcheekshidden · 27/09/2023 08:53

So far - 3! Hell on earth

Ikeepmybumcheekshidden · 27/09/2023 08:54

@MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you don't have any older children, OP?!? If not then you're in for one hell of a shock! 😆😉

looking4pup · 27/09/2023 08:56

2-4 and 11-13 worse so far

Thursa · 27/09/2023 09:10

i thought the two’s were no bother, we did rename four as the “effing awful fours” though. Both of ours, absolute nightmares at 4.

Bartlebum · 27/09/2023 09:14

7-10 seems okay, yeah 😂

Chocolatepopcorn · 27/09/2023 09:27

Excited101 · 26/09/2023 22:34

That’s why buggy’s are invented! They start playing up, you bung them in- gives you both a breather!

My eldest used to refuse the buggy. She would scream like she was being murdered when you tried to put her into it from about two and a half on.

GettingStuffed · 27/09/2023 09:28

You think this is bad wait until they're teenagers, like giant toddlers

HenryCavillsWife · 27/09/2023 09:32

3.5 is the worst age by a distance.

Bowtied · 27/09/2023 09:33

I liked 2. I do not like 14

HAF1119 · 27/09/2023 09:34

I found 2 okay... but 3 and 4 way harder. Hoping this balanced for you and you get an angel at that age! Just keep bearing with it!

MariePaperRoses · 27/09/2023 09:45

Not for me it wasn't. They were fantastic up until 13/14 and then great again 15 onwards!

Madat54 · 27/09/2023 09:49

25 onwards for me 🤑. Grandchild is nearly 3, I would say hardwork compared to my children. Dropping his sleep and whinges from 3pm, it's a pain.

Original poster
MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 27/09/2023 10:51

Ikeepmybumcheekshidden · 27/09/2023 08:54

@MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you don't have any older children, OP?!? If not then you're in for one hell of a shock! 😆😉

That's right @Ikeepmybumcheekshidden he's my first 😆🤣

OP posts:
TheFoz · 27/09/2023 11:09

My youngest hit 2 and a half two weeks ago and last week The Terrible Twos landed. It’s like having another hormonal teenager in the house 🤦‍♀️

He’s a typical male though, they way to his heart is through his stomach, usually in the form of bread, cake or biscuits!