I can't stand my 3 year old

[arrrggghhh]

My son is 3 and a half and today he is making me so angry with everyting he does and says. he is painting black only black like he is mad he is constantly trying to sit on me, he has just pinched his little brother who is only 3 months old and he is whining

he will not leave me alone, even now he is trying to get on my lap

normally I love him, but at the moment I am shouting and getting very angry

I know that it is my fault and not him - he is usually a lovely easy to deal with little boy

please help me get my calm back I'm scared i will smack him

JOIN US!

WE are all going mad with three year olds.

must go and get mine now!

Threenagers... can't live with them... can't sell them on ebay

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I've got four of them, older than yours now but my littlest is 5. Keep a perspective on it-he's here, he's Ok and he's your baby. Look at how many people would kill for a child, look at how many pople have kids that are really hard work (SN kids) and take a deep breath. He loves you, you love him and just go and look at the little wotsit when he's asleep, (glass of wine in hand) and blow him a kiss. He's yours, and we'll all be here to help with the hard times, but you've got him. Deep breath, smileXXXX

He may also be a bit jealous- dd kept trying to get on my lap all the time even when I was b/f ds. Try and get as much rest as poss ( I know - easier than it sounds ) because tiredness makes it much harder to be patient . Good luck

XXX aaargh and jollymum XXX

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Ooooh, I so understand!

The terrible two's were a walk in the park, compared to ds1's evolution into an extremely opinionated, obstinate 3 three old. He even says "I'm three", as if all other human beings should bow down before him and pay homage.

Then a couple of hours later, he says, "I love you Mummy, the whole wide world".

I know what he's trying to say and it feels wonderful, having previously felt I was going bananas because he was pushing me to the end of my tether!

I've been using the usual combo of star charts, reward good behaviour, ignore bad, plus time out to keep things on an even keel and ds2 (age 12 mths) in one piece.

When I was feeding ds1 a lot, I had a couple of special toys for ds1 which only came out at that time, that seemed to help.

But some days, it all goes pear shaped, whatever I try to do