Tell me about difficult toddlers who turned out just lovely - please!

[bringbackfonz]

I'm sure this has been done before, but what would really cheer me up right now would be to hear about 'challenging' small children who mellowed and became just lovely when they got older (or the other way round, but that seems a bit mean...). Not that the challenging ones aren't lovely, but you know what I mean.
Can anyone help? Much gratitude extended!

All the difficult ones i know have calmed down loads and loads although they still have their moments.

Ds1 - was known to be a wild child and is now a very easy (adorable, nearly perfect) child (5y 8m)and in many ways much better than children that were less challenging as toddlers. I think we have sorted out the worst of his problems because they were the ones that everyone notices (loud, physical, demanding....).

Will also be comforted to hear some more stories as Dt1s2 (3y 8m) is challenging me beyond the limits and I would like to be reminded that it gets better.

bbf - how old is yours and what is challenging you?

Oh yes, my DD to put it bluntly was a real little witch when she was approx 20 months through to the age of 3 I used to be desperate to get to work as it gave me respite from her...and used to dread coming home...However she is now an absolute joy and though she still has the odd moment esp when she is tired on the whole she is fab. Everyone who we know says she is a pleasure to look after and she always gets glowing reports from school .
So rest assured it does get easier though it seems as though no end is in sight when you're going through it! And all my friends have said exactly the same...Hth...

Hmm, I could tell you about a lovely sunny tempered toddler who turned into the 4 year old from hell!

dd1 was a terror, she'd fight and bite friends to the point i felt i shouldn't invite people over. She scream and kick at me, i'd try the naughty step and we'd spend forever battling to keep her on it - she was jumping straight off and screaming at me more. She was defiant and refused to do something she didn't want to do. This was 2, 3 and maybe 4 yrs old.

dd1 is now 7 and so very angelic ( i really mean it and those who know her would back me up) She is helpful, considerate sensitve. She burst into tears of happiness today upon hearing i'm expecting her first baby brother. She cares for her younger sisters beautifully. She even loads the dishwasher!!

It will get better for you i'm sure!

I was a destructive toddler, incredibly hard work. Eventually my gps paid for a psychiatrically trained child minder to give my mum a break. Apparently the child psychologists told her I would be a model teenager and I was (mostly ).

My friends look amazed when I tell them - I am known to be the laziest of the group!

Thanks everyone - just the kind of posts I was hoping for! Any more out there?

GoingLoopy - I posted the other day about my challenging DD1 (3.7) - have a look at my thread 'Sad and worried about my DD1' - basically she's moany, very demanding, and incredibly active. She also has a lovely side, though, so I am hoping that this will win out eventually!

dd was very difficult baby and toddler. Could not go anywhere with her, cried, how she cried, me walking on eggshells. Now at 7 she is really lovely, still whingey at times, but another mum said she hoped her baby daughter grow up to be just like dd. Dd is quite a little helper to me. Yesterday she sewed nametags for me onto ds' school coat, comforts ds and does her homework (largely) nicely.

Ds difficult baby and toddler too. Has mega floor thrashing thrombos and screaming fits in public. But he also gives me huge kisses and cannot stop hugging me - I have to prise him off sometimes. It is his personality. What makes him throw himself on the floor in frustration also translates into feeling strongly about other things. I would prefer that to an 'easy' child. I think it puts him in good stead later even if it is more challenging to manage now.

It was when ds was old enough to play with dd that my life got so very much better. They get along like a house on fire. I would say two (even two very challenging ones) is easier than one. I finally get to put my feet up ... sometimes

Oh DS3 was a complete shit until about 6 months ago. Would not be changed without thrashing, arching, screaming and ending up with crap all over him and us; very willful and stroppy, fighting to get his own way all the time, screaming, crying, not sleeping: all of it, really.

Now? A complete dream, with the biggest smiles and hugs and extremely co-operative. Goes off to toilet by himself, shares with his brothers, only very occasionally hits someone but always comes over and says sorry.

I predict it will go back in the other direction in about another 6 months

Oh I forgot the incessant throwing of EVERY plate of food on the floor.

We know, with three boys now, to just ignore it now: eventually he learned to stop, and join in.

They do calm down a lot at around 6yrs old. I saw a few children at the pre-school who were quite hard work to deal with, but once in reception with a good teacher they are lovely children and very polite.

We are doing a LOT of positive parenting these days [somewhat against the grain I must say ]

bbf - I remember, I posted! :)!

My daughter was awful from 18 months until 2 1/2, she would hit me in the face, have tantrums in Marks and Spencers doorway. Every day when she woke from her nap she would scream for half an hour and thrash about on the floor in a frenzy.

She is now 3 1/2 and is an angel, i am so proud of her. People now comment on her good behavoir when we are out.