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.

LOL my dd (3.1) is being very challenging at the moment its like someone flicked a switch inside her on turning 3. On Friday she got hold of felt tip pen and drew on the walls, the radiators, the dining table & chairs, the sofa, the floor and all over herself..... I had popped upstairs for literally 5mins! I actually had to walk round the garden to calm down.
And don't get me started on potty training...

confessions - my days at home with DS are just a constant discussion about food - what he wants next - what he doesn;t want - when he wants it.

Drives me nuts!

Lol pictureThis YABVVU for not having a petrol forecourt infront of your house and thus having no need to have petrol tankers visiting - I ask you!

Had to share this gem from today: DS1 (nearly 3) had a small spoon of beans leftover from his tea, DH chucked them in the bin - cue tantrum cos he 'hadn't finished' (it had been sitting there for 15 minutes) - he kept opening the bin (swing lid) and looking at them forlornly (sp?) - I shut the bin lid and asked him if would he like a slice of bread - he then decides to open the bid lid by sliding his face/head down it!?! Suffice to say he had a good scrub/hair wash in the bath tonight (nb: bin lid wasn't that scummy honest!) I have never known such attachment to old beans!

I like the saying "dogs have owners and cats have staff" - I'd love to know what toddlers have then - any ideas?

Today's tantrum was because I wouldn't wear the boots DD wanted me to wear. I put my foot down (literally) and insisted I wear my own choice of footwear. Cue 30 minutes screaming. Both DDs now snoring and dreaming of other ways to torture me; now please.

scrappydappydoo And I thought biro on our brown sofa was bad!!

Limelight They put on the best performances for guests

Loving that I am not alone here. I think the most irrational tantrum was 'I want to turn left, left is my favourite'!

My problem has always been that I start thinking 'no, you are not going to have the orange spoon just because you want it, you have to learn that you don't always get what you want' instead of realising she is not going to become a spoiled brat because I let her have the orange spoon. I guess this is what people mean by pick your battles. Problem is you don't realise they are battles till you're slap bang in the middle of the battle field!

My mum always says 'just let her win some, it will make her feel like she has some control over her life'.

Ha! I need to join, pronto. 3 definitely worse than 2, ime. DS1 was a stroppy bugger throughout early childhood, tbh (although now 5 and just lovely), but DS2 was a darling 2yo but, like OP's 3yo, woke up a few months ago as a different, utterly fiendish person. He can be so vile, especially to DS1 (leaps on him like a tiger, DS1 always covered in welts and scratches ) although thankfully not (yet) to baby DS3 (6 weeks).

He has truly epic tantrums over the most ridiculous things, refuses to eat a single meal that I make for him and seems to exist on fresh air and the odd slice of bread that he helps himself to from the bread bin , runs away from me all the time. Am bracing self for a pretty bumpy summer, by which time hopefully he will be over the worst of it. Am also v much looking forward to him starting pre-school .

The worst of it is, he looks so angelic and saves most of it for at home, so I don't think many people believe just how bad he can be when I tell them .

Can I join up too please? My dd is 3.9 yrs and in the last few weeks has turned into a stroppy stubborn little madam. I had been congratulating myself that we'd got through the terrible twos relatively unscathed, now it turns out she's been saving it all up for being three.

She hasn't even got the excuse of a new younger sibling, her brother is 20 months old!

Today we've had fallings out/tantrums about wanting to wear sandals but being told no because it might rain, pushing past her brother who then promptly head butted me (by accident), not wanting me to take her to the loo but one of my work colleagues instead, wanting one of my colleague's biscuits, wanting to put the reins on her brother, helping tidy up the cards she's just been playing with, which then resulted in her hitting me in the face and washing her feet in an upturned plastic stool and her hands in a cereal bowl balanced on the edge of the bath.

The remainder of the time she was great, especially when she told me at bed time that she wanted to name one of her cuddly toys 'bugger'!

Feel like I am fighting a losing battle and that it will never get better, am trying to work out what to ignore and what to deal with and how to deal with it, am exhausted and doubting my abilities as a mum at the mo!

Oooh can I join??

DD (3.2) has driven me "menkle" today....too many temper tantrums to list

Biggest one involved her doing a massive poo in the potty (just as I was serving up dinner, nice I tell you her timing is always uncanny ) and then having a total hissy fit about it being flushed down the loo as she wanted to keep it

Yesterday she named all her favourite people in the world when I pointed out that I was not on the list she said "you're not a person, you're just a mummy"

Ooh and I forgot before she went to bed this eve she asked me if I was at the end of my tether

Can't think where she has heard that expression

maxmissie - PMSL at wanting to call a soft toy "bugger"

I forgave DS2 all of his vileness today (although am sure only temporarily) when at bedtime, all warm and sweet-smelling from his bath, sucking his thumb and twiddling his hair and looking very angelic, he said "You are my best friend, I am so glad of you." Aaaaaahhhhh!

He will be a sod again tomorrow, though.

I know so did I whilst she was telling me, I could barely keep a straight face! No idea where she it from either!

simpson - dd2 frequently upsets dd1 (aged 5) by saying 'you're not my friend you're my sister' she doesn't say it to be mean - just matter of fact but it devestates dd1 as she's really into who's my first best friend and who's my second best friend etc and dd2 is always on her 'best friends list'

btw it was a black felt pen on a cream sofa (yes I know) weeps into hands

DS did the sweetest thing this morning.
We have a ritual when DH or I leave for work - whoever is staying home that day goes to the door to wave with DS and we have round-robin kisses. Last week, I was going to work and was doing what we call "rapid-fire kisses" when suddenly DH leaned in and gave DS a great big smacking kiss. DS, with a HUUUUGE grin on his face, said "don't give ME a kiss, YOU'RE not leaving!!" We were in stitches.

Cue this morning, I'm leaving for work, rapid-fire kisses all around and suddenly DS gave DH a great big smackeroo. DH says :o "don't give ME a kiss, I'M not leaving!" and DS says "I'm giving you a kiss because I love you!"

Waaaahhhh... DH and I didn't know if we were going to laugh or cry!

(Oh, it's Jacksmania BTW, I name changed because I started a yoga teacher training course this past weekend. "Om" is the sound of the universe, and "shanti" is a Sanskrit word meaning "peace".)

Hi Jack

Hi sweets, how's you? :o

OK picture this last night.
1st temper tantrum because cbeebies had finished (I can't help that)
then because it was bath time,
then because she wanted to undress herself
then because I turned the water off
then because she didn't want to get out
then because her peppa pig pj's were in the wash
then because she wanted to choose a book
then because I didnt' sing 'twinkle twinkle' quite right
then because Daddy was at the gym

Good job these tantrums knacker her out, at least she went to sleep quickly :)

thankyou all for reminding me that my life with ds1 (3.8) is normal. dosn't make it any easier...

we have been warned that for boys 4 to 5 years is the hardest of all due to their testosterone levels peaking (highest levels they ever have besides puberty)

i am terrified! 'Pick your battles' has always been one of my mantras, but the different battles have become a blur and now i feel like i am permanently in the middle of a war zone.

apparently 5 years is when the dust settles, not sure i will survive another year of this...

YANBU. DS1 turned 3 in feb and it's almost as if he's had a personality transplant most days. The incidents are too numerous to mention, but safe to say that sometime he renders me speechless!

DH and I have been talking about what our CM said about Jackbaby being so insecure at nursery... I feel terrible about it, I wonder if I've been to hard on him and not given him enough confidence in himself... :(
Don't know what to do, really. Some of the lovelies on the tea room thread have suggested it's normal for a little one who only goes to nursery once a week to have a harder time settling, and that makes sense to me. But does anyone have any suggestions for how I could help build his confidence?

Just when to mop the kitchen floor. Picked up bucket. Bucket full of pee.

DS3 utterly unconcerned when challeged re pee. Didnt even bother to deny it was his pee.

So glad i founds this thread! It has made me feel more normal. DD2 is 3.9 and for the last few weeks has turned into a nightmare. She has turned from being really lovely to being just so negative and just like a teenager I suppose.
I dont like nursery - its boring
I dont like my friends they are rubbish
I dont like sleeping its boring
I dont like pizza, pasta, mash, vergtables.......
I dont like my house, I want a bigger one like x friend

I should have been prepared as DD1 went through a similar phase, but we put this down to the arrival of her little sister. Its just so draining when everything is a battle and I'm trying my best to stay calm but not always managing. Cant wait for two whole weeks of this over the easter holidays :(

well hi everyone im a newbie and its prob a bit late to be introducing myself as i guess most of us are trying to recover from the trauma of toddler tantrums today, but id just like to say its a real relief to read that im not the only one with a demonic and unreasonable little being in my house and your comments have really made me giggle.

ive got three of the little buggers although technically speaking i cant really count the 11yr old as a toddler but she still bloody acts like one!

dosent matter how many you spawn, being kicked in the shins and forced to watch postman pat over n over n over dosent get any less painful!