Has anyone else found that four is harder than baby, toddler or threenager?

[hunkermunker]

Is there something about testosterone surge or is that a myth?

DS2 is 2.4 and considerably feistier than DS1 was at the same age.

I may need to take restorative holidays in English seaside towns by myself, with much sitting, rug-wrapped, in a bath chair overlooking the sea, I think.

Like in an Agatha Christie novel? I always think that sounds like bliss.

oh i could manage sitting staring out at sea with a rug on lap.
just not conversation of any kind.
i want your restorative holiday hm.

Maybe a little tea and a bun at 4pm. And a sherry at 6pm.

Aero, yes, it's partly the "this isn't turning out as I intended" thing with DS1 as well.

What is really furstrating is eg:

DS1 bounces on bed.

I ask him not to./

He sits down briefly.

Then gets up again.

Bounces again, testing-the-boundaries glint in his eye.

I tell him not to.

He kicks the nappy changing box on the bed and hurts his foot.

And it's my fault for putting the box there and he yells at me for it, "That's your fault, Mummy!!!".

And then I want to shout and stamp my feet and say, "NO IT SODDING ISN'T!".

But I don't.

Ohhhhhhhhh, am going to set up restorative seaside holidays for frazzled mothers, I think.

That would be lovely.

And I have 4.3yo DTs! I'm convinced that DT1 is having the testosterone surge. She certainly acts like it!

You've just had your restorative seaside holiday, Marsy

I know... but then I came back!

DS1 was awful at 2 and 3 but turned good almost overnight at 4.
I'm hoping the same can be said for DS2 but I'm not hopeful. 21 days till he's 4...

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Pruners, how about we swap 4yos for a bit? Would give us a change of tantrum scenery anyway

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They're always good for other people though - it's the law.

I've often thought one should keep a steady stream of strangers through the house, in order to ensure good behaviour. However, without opening a brothel, I'm unsure how to achieve that.

i recognise that scene pruners. amplify it by 3... maybe mix it up a bit by having the 2yo wail at the same time and the 3yo ask over and over and over and over for the same thing, all while attempting to remain calm in the Battle To Stop the Jumping.
yeah, i dont do so well.
dont think i shouldve had kids tbh. or at least i shouldve stuck with one. 3 is just stupid.

That situation pretty much describes ds2 to a tee hunker. It's absolutely definitey my fault if he ends up hurting himself in a tantrum because he refuses to do what he's asked in the first place and I totally know where you're coming from with the 'pushing the boundaries glint in his eye' thing.

I feel soooooooooo much better knowing it's not just me and my lovely ds. I know I am so not a crapola parent, but, hell, it doesn't feel that way sometimes! It can be really rather draining.

Aero, it's fab just hearing it's not just me too!

Mothers of glinting 4yos unite!

Saw Thomcat today - we had lots of "OMG are you living my life" moments on just this subject - very comforting indeed

Hi, Hunker

Oh yes, just when I thought it should be getting easier, the rage, the arguing, the refusal to comply with simple requests...and she gets so tired after a day at nursery that there is no way to reason with her. Very hard some days I must admit!

Hello, you (DS2 says that now - v funny).

How you?

fine, now, ta

was hungover in the EXTREME on Saturday

funny night, sorry about all the fag smoke!!!

so funny - I said to dh "guess what? Hunkermunker came out!" and he was sooo confused, I was getting really annoyed with him till realised he thought I meant you'd come out in a lesbian styley, pmsl

Oh, dear - you nutter! Did you go on elsewhere in the end?

LOL at me coming out

I have a friend who calls them the f*cking awful fours - How true.

DD1 has just turned five and apart from the the whining (which is getting less) is starting to get easier. However, dd2 is now 2.6 so we are reaching the start of her 'troublesome' years!!

yeeees, another two pubs!!

bleurgh