I think there should be a bloody support group for parents of 3 year olds

[Limelight]

It's like DS woke up a couple of months ago as a completely different person.

'Trying' incidents today:

1. Complete refusal to even consider wearing any clothes. I mean, would genuinely have been very happy if I'd agreed to send him to pre-school in the buff.

2. Running out into the road.

3. Massive screaming kicking throwing things level tantrum because I'd dared suggest we go out with his friends to a club he normally loves. Because the children are naughty and it's all soggy. Apparently. Needless to say we didn't go because by the time he'd calmed down it was too late. So he had another massive tantrum because he couldn't go.

4. Massive sulk because a kid he didn't know decided to play on the wrong slide. Apparently.

5. Complete refusal to eat the dinner he helped me make because it had (completely imaginary) green bits in it. I wouldn't mind except it's normally one of his favourites.

Now admittedly he's very recently had chicken pox and is still a little irritable but when I think about it, he's been like this for a few months. I also have a 10wo DD which isn't helping. He loves her but is not hugely happy with DH and I for changing his life.

Totally exhausted. Going for a bath and a lie down.

Is it normal for 3 year old boys to 'take on' the bigger boys in the park if they have 'his' swing etc??

I think that may depend on the 3yo, marypoppins - mine wouldn't do it, he'd just stand there looking sad or come wailing and tell me that big boys have taken his swing. But he's on the small side and bigger children have a habit of pushing him around, so perhaps that's why. :(

We just moved house this weekend and everytime I went to tape up a box with the tape machine thing when DS was within hearing he'd tell me 'SHHH it to loud!' He was to shy to tell Grandy off though so it was only me being scolded.

MaryPoppins, my DS has been known to make a beeline for the bigger known bully boys and try to assert his authority. He hasn't been around the particular boy he used to so it to in ages, so I'm hoping he's past it otherwise I'm in for a lot a 'Mrs Confessions, your DS was in a fight today' when he gets to school!

We had a good one this morning. Wails because it was morning, not afternoon...

NO IT'S NOT MORNING!

It was very hard not laughing...

have to go back and read this whole thread with a cup of tea!

how about a major hour long sobbing tantrum.... because he wanted to sleep in the wardrobe!

that's just the first one that springs to mind

DD is a thumb sucker too, she only sucks it when she has her snuggle blanket but unfortunately that gets taken almost everywhere. I wouldn't dare tell her she couldn't though, its one of those battles I choose not to pick

Thumbbunny that is soooooo cute. My dd sucks hers might try that!

I too am the mother of a 3 yr and 19 weeks pregnant with 2nd. I have been despairing recently at the behaviour of said 3yro - he used to be calm, gentle and easygoing. Now we regulary fall out ( i know, I'm the adult, he's the child, there should be no falling out) but sometimes the reality is he pushes me too far and I can't do anything but shout back. Sometimes I strop out of the room and even slam doors. Often when this happens, I'll say sorry to him for shouting and he'll say 'thats ok mummy' and gives me a hug, patting my back at the same time, which inevitably makes me cry. Its a constant rollercoaster of emotions. That is what is the hardest thing, the up and down-ness of it all. But how do I react in a diferent way? I'm tired and hormonal and he pushes me so far. Would love to know any coping mechanisms other people have found useful.....

My ds2 was crying today because he claimed ds1 stole his shadow..

Why has my three-year-old suddenly turned deaf??? (not for real, of course)
DS, don't dig in my flowers.
DS, don't dig in my flowers.
DS, don't dig in my flowers!
DS, STOP DIGGING IN MY FLOWERS!!!!!
DID YOU HEAR MEEEEEEEEEE???????

No, mummy, I didn't.

Ffffnnnnaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

(And a very tiny bit of PMSL :o)

Mine right now is refusing to go to bed. I put him down 1.5 hours ago, usually he goes straight off.

So far he has needed a poo so I took him to the toilet and he proceeded to wipe it with his hand. Then all over his leg and bits. Cue needing a shower.

After that I thought he was asleep, checked on him 1/2 hour later and all I see are his legs poking out from beneath his blind.........he's watching next door in their garden.

Next time he's in our bedroom unwrapping computer shit that dp has left there.

Then he's got his leg stuck in the stairgate at the top of the stairs.

Then he's a the window again.

Then he gets his bin to stand on to attempt to get over said stair gate.

He's there again now aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhh

We get that sort of thing all day at the moment TheEasterBunnyDoesYoga

Oh god now he's throwing stuff down the stairs.

Crap day today :(
DS trying to play with 10 year olds on the beach. They got annoyed with him and next thing I know the mother of the boys shouted at me to "make him play elsewhere" :( He probably wasn't digging fast enough or something......or being a pain....

:(

Ds loves to try to play with older boys. Yesterdya an older boy turned up at the park. Ds tried to spin him in the thingy and he got kicked for his efforts :(

The boy went off and came back with a friend brandishing small fence posts Ds went to play with him again and the litte sod started poking at him with said post. We left really quickly after that.

Makes me feel so sad as ds is only trying to make friends and these horrible children act like that. he got punched in the back another time too.

Luckily most children aren't like that.

I just thought the mother could have tried to get her older boys to show him what to do or be nice and say "no not like that, like this"......

I expect her boys at 3 were perfect....

Yes she should have really, that's what I would have done anyway.

Of cousre they were they probably still are now!!

This has made very funny reading! I am 7 months into this parenting business and my DS is wonderful and doesn't answer back .

I have been feeling rather smug about my parenting especially as my 3.5 yo niece throws the most spectacular tantrums about nothing. E.g. today, going on a walk, we pass a riding stable. 3 yo sees a white house and says "that horse would be perfect for me" or words to that effect. DH replies "a pink horse would be better for you". Cue screaming "no, no, a white horse" refusing to go any further etc.

Think I have no reason to be smug until I reach age 5 without a tantrum, suspect this will not happen

I can't believe no-one has mentioned "why"!
We go round and round in circles with that one!

We also have" it's morning time" cos it's light at 5.30.
"It's not night time"cos it's still light at 7.30pm

then, "I want a jelly snake"!! What?

Then, what would you like for breakfast? "Cheerios and weetabix in
the same bowl"

or toast with jam, but the toast has to be "like a sandwich"(double decker, or sometimes "like a ham sandwich"(triple decker)

"I want to walk to nursery, no I want to go in pram, no, in the car"

then every single morning he has to show me where his peg was in his previous room. He's been in this new room for 6 months

then at nursery, today he wouldn't take his coat off, all day.

yesterday it was his hat, kept it on inside.

Then on the way out, I have to lift him do that he can open the doors by himself

then we have to do this bizarre ritual of me staying at one door, while he goes to the end of the corridor, and I'm not allowed to move until he gets to his door
then he hides under the desk in the office

then, every single day, "I want a chocolate froggy mummy"

when we get home, he wants to watch monsters. The bloody sky man came last week and gave us a new dish, bloody monsters Inc got wiped! How to explain that one!
Have recorded it again now

then the bedtime drama, never wants to get washed it get in the bath or brush his teeth. Have same conversation every night about teeth falling out, he tells me!

Then drama about how many stories he has. Had a little phase of everything having to be 3, "because I 3 old mummy"
but currently it is five books

then(this is just new this week), he wants a song!
He makes up a song and I have to copy it, and god forbid I should get it wrong!

We bought him a sleeping bag for our camping hols and that is now favorite to sleep in, the wardrobe doesn't get a look in now.

And of course, he has to do everything by himself. Get in his car sear, buckle himself up, jump out himself, open drinks, make sandwich, open door.

But the cheeky one is, me-" could you put that in the bin please?"
ds, in nice enough voice-"no, you do it"

Aarrgghh!!!

I may or may not have mentioned this one but it's getting worse so forgive me if I'm repeating myself.
DS at night: Mummy, you clean my teeth now.
Me: ok, come on then

DS: I can't breathe, I can't breathe
Me: Yes you can, you are breathing look.
DS: I can't breathe mummy!
Me: ok, just blow, look like this
DS: I can't breathe, I can't breathe Mummmeeeeee!!
Me: look, blow raspberries
DS:
Me: ok, fetch your stool then
DS: I can't breathe mummy
@ @ __@

DS: look, I crying, I can't breathe, I got bogies!
Me: ok
DS: I can't breathe
Me: do you want me to clean your teeth?
DS: Yes!
Me: Well open your mouth then
DS: I CAN'T BREATHE, I GOT BOGIES!
Me: Ok, well I won't clean them then
DS: NOOOOOOO!!! You have to clean my teeth NOW, don't GOOOOO!!!
Me: come on then, open your mouth..
Repeat ad nauseam.

Eventually, I managed it. I offered to let him do his own (not that he can do it properly but at least it would get the brush in the right place) - no. I offered to do it while I was sitting on the closed loo and he on my knee - no.
He obviously knew it had to be done, he wanted it to be done but the actuality of doing it is causing this histrionic reaction which is getting worse daily and always ends up with him in tears.

I have taken him to the doctor to check if he actually has any breathing ishoos, but since his blood level is fine, he's not anaemic, his chest is clear and there are no actual wheezy noises, it's hyperventilation. Which, to be fair, I have suffered from most of my life (not always in histrionic fashion) and DS has had since he was tiny - he couldn't release his breath to cry, I used to have to poke him hard in the chest to make him release. At least now he only does it when we do teethcleaning...

Hdl, I apologise for shouting at DD too Sometimes there is not much you can do with them other than to walk away and leave them to it, that's usually the wrong thing in their world too though!

Hdl, they really know how to push the right buttons. I find sometimes just slowing down helps, so when possible no visitors mid-afternoon and we have quiet time which is some tv or reading or colouring. Other than that deep breathing and a different room .

Mine today is stuck in why mode:
why is it?
why does it?
why do I?
all said in a very whiney tone

I have stopped answering cos every answer gets another whhhyyyyy. grrrr.

DS is being really difficult atm. However he does have an excuse as he is rcovering from some minor eye surgery and is still mega clingy atm. Not eating a lot either

Could someone explain to me why DS is "meh" about going to the potty for DH and me, but will gladly grab his granny by the hand and pull her arm out of its socket dragging her to the loo, shouting "G-ma, G-ma, come with me, I've got to do a poo!" [buconfused][buhmm]

Kara poor you you must be a bit stressed I hope you DS recovers soon. I'm sure when he gets his appetite back he'll eat like a horse to make up for it! As long as he has plenty of fluids for the time being he should be fine.

Drove to the beach yesterday with dds (nearly 3 and 8 months). Saw lots of lambs and cows and horses. But every time I exclaimed enthusiastically "Dd1 look! There are lots of lambs/cows/horses! Aren't they lovely!?" She would reply, totally deadpan, "I don't like sheep any more" "I don't like cows" "I don't like horses" and at home it's all "I don't like Makka Pakka/grandad/theblue waybuloo any more mummy" etc etc

Thanks, he is getting better! Ate more today :)
It'll just take time for him to get his energy levels back up and then he'll go back to tormenting me again. It has been nice in a way as he has been wanting so many cuddles at the moment which is nice as such a cuddly little thing when he is not being the world's biggest strop monster