To be utterly fed up after today?

[Ihadpracticedforweeks]

One of those days for sure. Went to a farm for a pumpkin trail and the usual farm things.

First hiccup was with toasting marshmallows. Asked three year old if she wanted to toast marshmallows and she shrieked NO at me. OK then. Her brother then goes to toast his marshmallows and she starts screaming that she wants a marshmallow. £4 poorer and she loses interest in a nanosecond leaving the marshmallow behind

Next problem is the jumping pillow where she wants to go on but also doesn’t want other children jumping anywhere near her so every time they do she wails and screams.

The ride on cars then cause a huge drama as she didn’t want to wait her turn, and then didn’t want to get off when she got her turn. More wailing and crying.

After lunch she seemed to enjoy the little soft play so I thought the day was salvageable. But then had an argument with her brother over who got to pet the ginuea pig. More tantrums when removed then hit me

Then I dropped her home while I gave friend and her ds a lift and dad let her fall asleep so now to top it all it’ll be a 10 o clock bedtime 😭

I need to point out this is not by any means a normal day but ffs.

I’d be very cross with dad for letting her have such a late nap
her behaviour sounds very terrible three’s and the day and activities sound very over stimulating for her
if it’s out of the ordinary then chalk it up to experience
however I hope there were consequences for hitting you

It was a long day for her and a lot to manage.

Beyond furious with dad but it is done now!

Ah the best planned days laid to waste by three year olds. Been there. Over excited and over stimulated at that age can be a recipe for disaster. On another day she'd have loved it.

Hope the evening doesn't drag on too badly. I don't blame a three year old for being emotional and crazy but I do blame your DH for letting her nap!

Oh man! I remember those days. Best one was when DS had a massive meltdown over the contents of a party bag and was an ungrateful brat in front of the parents of his new nursery class. I had to physically drag him out of the party- even I was judging me!

Happy to report he no longer tantrums and “gets what he gets and won’t get upset” . He is 16 though 😂

She is 3. When they are little you sometimes have to split forces so the older one can do something nice in peace and the little one does something manageable with other parent. Her dad sounds hopeless though so it might not work for you. We had to do that a lot when ours were little. Much more enjoyable for everyone than so called "family time". Everyone gets a nice time and we meet up for food later. Nerves intact.

I accidentally voted YABU when I really think YA definitely NBU, OP.

Sorry.

It sounds like a very long day. It's not terribly helpful but this phase won't last forever. I promise.

Let dad have to stay up late and do the bedtime routine!

Sob. To be fair she’s not normally any trouble on days out but today was horrific!

Not the point of the thread I know but £4 to roast a marshmallow is so expensive.

Chalk it down to a bad day and go again tomorrow. Hope the rest of the week is better

Such a rip off, always is in places like that!

I think your child is to young to enjoy activities like this.

Oh God, that has reminded me of taking DS to the reindeer farm age 3. So many people, total nightmare. Commiserations. It's often a much more enjoyable experience avoiding all that and just going for an autumn walk in the woods or pumpkin carving and hot chocolate at home

Sounds like she was tired to start with

You can't always stop young kids napping.
My 3rd child is very difficult on days out somi feel your pain

So dad’s on bedtime duty then??

Are you giving in every time she wants something?

I find ‘special events’ with toddlers to be mostly underwhelming. They get overexcited, overstimulated, tired and the magic/joy you hoped for is a disappointment so everyone ends up upset.

Today has been one of those days with my 3 year old, tried to keep it simple with pumpkin painting but he ended up in tears that he had painted his pumpkin a colour he didn’t like he was relieved to get back to his familiar toys

Drink wine, it helps numb the pain of parenting small children.

My 3 year old cried hysterically tonight because he wasn’t allowed to take his pumpkin in the bath. Or to bed.
I feel your pain, I really do.

Aww...I think every mum has had days like these. 😬
Thank God it's almost over. ❤

You are not alone. Days out turn a corner at 4-5 I think. Go run a bath or hide upstairs with a book and let dad reap what he sowed for an hour.

I hate to say this but if she’s normally ok on days out, and she’s fallen asleep at an unusual time, and it’s this time of year…. I’d be expecting her to be unwell tomorrow. Mine were always horrors when they were just coming down with something.

It’s all very well saying it was too much for her (possibly but she generally enjoys days out) but it wouldn’t really be fair on her brother to never go anywhere because of her. It’s all a balance, isn’t it?

The last daytime nap she had was July on the way back from holiday so it isn’t a common occurrence.

She is with PILs tomorrow! I did wonder if she might be unwell but she’s eaten well, not sure.

Last week we spent best part of an hundred quid on a "family day out" she told me she didn't enjoy the day it was too far away .... Today she's had hold of some packaging and a roll of sellotape and aparinately it was the best day ever. I am learning with her that sometimes it's just over stimulating and the poor behaviour is because of the stim.

Ugh, I remember days like this. One child is really engaged and enjoying everything, so it would be unfair to leave, while the other child is trying to suck your soul out of your mouth by behaving as abominably as possible. There’s no easy answer to it, you just have to grit your teeth and get through it. Three year olds can be utterly insufferable, completely illogical and perverse. And they bounce back in minutes while you’re shredded at the end of the day. The only helpful thing I can say is that it does get better.