Does anybody else have a dc who is just plain difficult?

[2boytantrum]

DS2 is 3 and right from the get-go has been a challenging child. He was a nightmare to wean, screamed every meal time for about 6 months. Then he became unbelievable clingy and whingey and this phase has lasted to the present day. Potty training was a nightmare. Everything about him is just difficult, he cries at the drop of a hat, won't be left anywhere without a fuss, is hugely demanding of me and his older brother at all times. He starts nursery in a week's time and I just feel so tired at the thought of yet another "difficult" phase. Does anyone else have a child like this? Do they grow out of it, or will he just always be difficult? I look at other happy-go-lucky 3 year olds and feel very depressed for ds.

My DD is like this. She is 4. Now ive had DD2 it has become clear to me just how diffcult DD1 has been!! She wouldn't even look at anyone she didn't know without bursting into tears. She wouldn't sit and play with toys as a baby, she just sat and whinged. She hardly drank any milk and weaning was a nightmare. She couldn't cope with lumps in food until 18 months old. She didn't sleep at night and is still restless in the night! She has always been very demanding and still demands my attention all the time. She just spent her first 4 years whinging and when she was old enough, being naughty! I could never take her out with me shopping or anything because she would whinge/cry the whole time. At baby groups i would spend my time pacing at the back with my whinging DD while the other mums drank coffee and cooed over their content babies.

She is a lovely little girl, very chatty and very bright. I wouldn't have her any other way i love her more than anything but gosh it has been such hard work. Baby DD2 is the total opposite. I am very much enjoying our shopping trips and baby groups, i don't even know ive got her with me she is so good! She is so different to DD1.

I think the ones who start out challenging stay that way and we just have to go with it. It is hard and i feel for you going through this with your DS. I don't have any advice im afraid because i don't know how i am still sane either!

Just wanted to say you are not alone with this. I bet your DS is a lovely little boy, like my DD they just need a little more time and patience [exhausted emoticon]

Thanks guys. I do have that book already, but haven't got round to reading it yet - I will dig it out tonight! neverenough, I think you're right, ds will probably stay challenging, I think that's what's getting me down, realising I have to change my attitude to him. If he can just let go of the clinginess and whinging, he is an absolute delight - very charming if he wants to be, but it's all on HIS terms. I think Im really feelign it at the moment because he's about to start nursery and I know it's going to be tough.

I know what you mean OP. It's hard to change your attitude towards it isn't it. Well when my DD started nursery things were a little easier because it gave us time apart. When she came home at lunch time i was ready for the afternoon with her iykwim.

Hope nursery goes ok for you and DS.

My dd can be alot like this - I also didn't realise how 'high needs' she was until I had ds, who is cut from a much calmer cloth. My dd has been at nursery 2 days a week since she was 18 months old when I went back to work; she's not good with transitions and still often cries when she's dropped off, but the time apart makes our relationship much better. I appreciate her more, and I get a bit of thinking space.

hope that nursery goes well.