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Original poster

Do any of you experience the Terrible Twos?

25 replies

CoinOperatedGirl · 04/06/2010 23:21

Anyone?

I have actually found that the two's are a bit of a doddle compared to the three's and the four's. Anyone really had a worse 2 experience than 3 or 4?

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luciemule · 04/06/2010 23:22

agree. Two was fine, three and up was a nightmare!

mw27pink · 04/06/2010 23:52

My DD2 decided that she would scream, kick and roll on the path on High street for 20 minutes, because she did not want to cross the road!! An older lady walked by staring at me with that look " cant you controll your child" so I just smiled and said "she is not mine!!!" But that was the worse that I got from her, now is the turn of my DD3 and she is sooo stuborn...will let you know how things go!!

ExplodingBananas · 05/06/2010 19:57

Are 3/4 year olds as demanding as toddlers though. I have an 18mo who is starting to make his opinions know but I can't explain anything to him or take my eyes of him for a second (he climbed on the toilet for the first time today and got hold of the bleach on the window sill).
I sometimes wonder if people bemoaning the older preschool years have forgotten how demanding toddlers are [hopeful emoticon]

CliffBarnsby · 05/06/2010 20:09

I am in the midst of terrible twos and while it can be terrible they are bad days, not normal days. Normal days have bad parts.

I hope 3 isn't worse, though or that would mean my bad day turns into a normal day .

I really hope all of you have just forgotten what such high pitched screaming {''NOOOO!O!!!!!!!''} for 40 minutes is really like...

Bunnyjo · 07/06/2010 11:18

I thought we were escaping the terrible 2's but since DD turned 30mth (she is 33mth now) she has become such a headstrong and bossy little madam. I love the fact she is incredibly independent and knows her own mind and will communicate it very VERY well, but it can be so tiring and draining.

tabbycat7 · 07/06/2010 11:30

I wonder if it's a phase they all go through at some point and some kids start at 18 mo (or younger)and others don't get their terrible twos until they are three. DS1 was an angel until he was 3 then he was hell. He's calmed down now (and grown up a lot) into a (usually) quite nice, if bus-crazed, 4 year old. DS2 is 2.6 and going throught the terrible 2s. I think they might be waning though or maybe I'm just getting used to it!! They grow out of it eventually

littlemissindecisive · 07/06/2010 12:10

DD - 2yrs old a breeze....3yrs -pain in the backside for a couple of months but nothing too bad.

DS1 - trouble since he could walk at 15 months

pigletmania · 07/06/2010 16:05

My dd now 3.3 years was fine for the first 6 monts of the 2s but a nightmare later on and it has continued still Though last week she was really good,no tantruming or demanding.

meandjoe · 07/06/2010 16:16

Definitely depends on the child! My ds was vile as a baby, OK as a nearly 3 yr old but maybe the worst is still to come .

FiveGoMadInDorset · 07/06/2010 16:19

DD alot worse at 3 thant 2.

MrsJohnDeere · 07/06/2010 16:22

Currently experiencing much terrible twoness with 2.4yo ds2. Currently very fond of throwing himself to the ground with much thrashing and wailing.

I'm sure ds1 was never this hard work.

DilysPrice · 07/06/2010 16:22

Two was definitely the worst because there was absolutely no reasoning with them. A three year old won't (usually) scream for half an hour because their biscuit has broken!!!!! and they don't want another one!!!! they want you to fix the old one!!!!!

DD still has tantrums at 7, but given time she will calm down and apologise for being unreasonable. She wouldn't do that at 30 months.

websticks · 08/06/2010 19:23

In my experience the terrible Twos start at 18 mths and go on till 5 years.

BornToFolk · 08/06/2010 19:28

So far (DS is 2.7), the twos have not been that terrible. He has his moments but in general is a whinger rather than a tantrummer, which is still annoying but can be reasoned with...to some extent. On the whole though, he's really lovely. So, probably going to be a nightmare at 3 then!

Montifer · 08/06/2010 19:40

My previously super easy going DS turned 2 last week and whilst trying to avoid the cliche he has certainly started to be a bit 'sensitive' and completely unreasonable about random things.
Definitely more whingey than tantrumming.
The previously failproof panacea of rice cakes seems to be losing it's magic too

Clare123 · 08/06/2010 20:32

I have had a terrible time with my son since the age of 18 months. He is now nearly 3 years old.....and I have good days and bad days. (Today I feel we are getting somewhere!) He is a very active strong willed child....but hopefully these strengths will eventually create an amazing man! (Hey ho - there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel hey?!)

(Very envious of all you that have had an easy time!)

IMoveTheStars · 08/06/2010 20:35

Just been reminded of a lovely thing my sister said when her DS was just 12 months old.

"There's no such thing as terrible two's, just terrible parenting"

Her DS is 2 in a couple of weeks. arf.

(to answer your question, yes. DS is usually very very good, but when he's 2, he's very very 2!)

ValiumtheConqueror · 08/06/2010 20:48

Please God don't tell me it gets worse before it gets better. DD1 was 2 a month ago. I sat for 50 minutes on the pavement outside nursery last night because she wanted to be carried home. I live five doors away, had brought DD2 (3 months) in a sling, and had the scooter for the pocket dictator to be pushed home on. 5o minutes she screamed and ranted until in the end a member of staff came and watched her so i could go home and get the pushchair. On the plus side, she slept until 9am.

But she's sitting beside me now- something woke her screaming, and she screamed on my knee for 30 minutes before I caved. DH is out late tonight and I just don't know what's wrong. If her screaming makes me a bad parent, what does my lack of backbone say??

IMoveTheStars · 08/06/2010 21:28

Valium - NEVER give in. ever ever ever ever. then they win and they have got you

3peasinapod · 08/06/2010 21:40

I have a 23 mo and OMG she is really getting into the terrible 2s. My 3 yr old is soooo stuborn and my 4 yr old is coming round and being a great help and a great child.

ValiumtheConqueror · 08/06/2010 22:10

so only two more years.......

tryingtoleave · 10/06/2010 10:17

I found two really really hard. 3 can still be hard work but at least ds now responds to discipline, threats, bribery and reasoning.

Clockspotter · 10/06/2010 13:29

I agree with Dilys, when I snapped a banana in two for DD (2yrs) to eat- the way she has always liked it, she went mental and demanded it be put back togther! Wouldnt accept another one!

Have been re-assuring myself for ages that 3 will be a doddle in comparison

Clockspotter · 10/06/2010 13:32

Valium- love 'pocket dictator' will def start using that one in our family

ValiumtheConqueror · 10/06/2010 20:53

You are v welcome Clockspotter!

It;s both comforting and distressing to know that others find/found two a hard age......I spent 30 minutes trying to get PD(Pocket Dictator) to put on some trousers today....we always go for tea out on a Thursday but she wouldn't wear trousers and there are limits; I'm not having my semi-naked daughter prancing about half-naked among the general populus

Any advice on dealing with throwing?

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