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Parenting

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Original poster

OMG 3 year olds!!!

42 replies

flipflopson5thavenue · 10/02/2016 15:33

I need to rant. I know it's a phase BUT

the constant demanding
the whining
the grumbling
the complaining
the grumpiness
the rudeness
the shoutiness

THE WHINING!!!!!! OMG the whining.

When does it all stop :(

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

gandalf456 · 11/02/2016 21:12

When does it stop? Dunno. Ask my eleven year old

MavolioBent · 11/02/2016 21:22

Aww but they are cute though looking for an upside

Dd2 (3.1) called my Ds2 a 'didiot' today because she didn't like his answer to her question. I can't remember thethe question but it probably started with 'whyyy...'

My 12 year old isn't particularly whiny but I realise I am looking at a teenager in a few months so this is probably the calm before the storm..

imwithspud · 11/02/2016 21:37

Oh god, I can relate to this. DD1 can be an utter nightmare at times. It's the not listening and having to repeat instructions repeatedly. I shout more than I care to admit out of frustration. I also use bribery a lot (if you don't stop doing X, you can't have/I will take away Y), it works so no shame.

This morning she broke down in tears at breakfast because DP gave her a cup of juice and "I don't have juice at breakfast I have milt (milk)". Took the juice away and reassured her that it's no big deal, still resulted in a meltdown resulting in her flat out refusing to eat her breakfast for 10 minutes.

I'm finding this age utterly exhausting, I'm dreading having to do it all again when DD2 (8months) reaches that stage.

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Roomba · 11/02/2016 21:46

I can absolutely relate to this, OP. But then DS (3.5) will just suddenly do or say something so utterly adorable that all is forgiven again. Having said that, it would be nice for this stage to pass soon. It's the constant whinging and crying over utterly random things I can do nothing about that gets me.

I don't even get to sleep... sob

imwithspud your DD's meltdown reminded me of the time DS1 (who was 3 at the time) had the biggest tantrum he has ever had to this day (he's 10 now). He insisted that I have a glass of wine with my breakfast at 7am - as 'I have MILK, Daddies have COFFEE and Mummies have WINE!' I have no idea where he got that idea . When I refused he screamed and thrashed around for half an hour. If I'd have had any wine in I would have just given in at that point frankly...

GrouchyKiwi · 11/02/2016 21:49

DD1 is going to be 4 at the beginning of March. I am sad that there is no magical change of behaviour on her birthday.

We generally have two days a week that are pretty good, three days that are mixed and two days that are horrendous. The horrendous ones never fall on the weekend when DH isn't at work.

DD2 is 18 months and is just beginning this behaviour. And I'm pregnant so I can't fix it with wine.

Helpfully, both children are utterly beautiful and wonderful when they're asleep so I make sure I go in every night to help me recover from the day and remember how amazing they are. (And give them a kiss and tell them I love them.)

MavolioBent · 11/02/2016 21:54

Aah bribery...she ran off at rugby training last night and calling her name was just ignored, so I called out 'I have sweets' and back she came. I'm not proud yes I am

imwithspud · 11/02/2016 22:48

at mummies have wine. It's a real shame that you didn't have any in.

I'm also sad that a magic switch doesn't flip on their 4th birthday and they turn into angels again. My 8month old is joyful most of the time, only cries if there's something wrong and that something is usually fixed with relative ease. I really took this time for granted with dd1.

Praise the Lord for pre-school. I now understand why the government offers 15hours free childcare a week the term after they turn 3, it's for the parents' sanity obviously

thatsn0tmyname · 11/02/2016 22:50

DS is 4.5 and still at it. It's grim.

Thinkishouldcoco · 11/02/2016 23:00

Mine can't bear it if I don't know the answer to every question:
'Mummy, who lives in that house?'
'I don't know'
'Yes you do(oooooo)'
'Sorry, I don't know, I've never seen that house before'
'You do know'...meltdown begins'
'Erm, maybe a man and a lady and a dog?'
'Nooooooooooooo'

oobedobe · 11/02/2016 23:18

I hear you. My own delightful threenager was late to the party from 18m-3.5 there was nothing, very compliant, none fussy, easy as pie. Tricked I was into thinking piece of piss, but no it got me in the end. Now it's "i say NO mummy!' said with hands on hips, and not wanting to leave anywhere ever, and not understanding that I am not a mind reader who knows that 'no' really means 'yes I did want that food you just threw away that I had been ignoring for 20 mins and telling you I didn't like it'.

Memory is a wonderful thing as I had completely forgotten my 7yo DD1 being like this at 3/4, let's just say it is all coming back to me now.

Peppapogstillonaloop · 11/02/2016 23:25

4 I think might actually have been worse..sorry! Whining combined with an increase in stroppiness meant my dd was even worse. DS is just about to turn four and I think he too is getting more stroppy! At least the baby is still cute

Original poster

flipflopson5thavenue · 12/02/2016 09:12

Thinkishouldcoco - OMG I could have written that exchange!!

"mummy who is that?"
"I dont know, I don't know them"
"why don't you know them?"
"because I don't know everyone?"
"why don't you know everyone?"

but I agree re the adorable stuff too. A few months ago i drove to France by myself with the DS, 3.1yo and 9mo at the time(never. again). DS1 had spent the whole 5 hr drive asking "why?" questions, and DS2 had mostly cried. I was very very close to losing the plot... At which point I thought I'd taken the wrong way and was lost and I said "I can't talk right now DS1, please stop asking me questions" "Why can't you talk?" " because I think we;re a bit lost"

pause

"don't worry mummy, I'm here with you"

I actually burst into tears and it still brings tears to my eyes several months later!!

OP posts:

Titsalinabumsquash · 12/02/2016 09:15

I got my 3 year old shouting bully at me for a while yesterday at the top of his voice because I wouldn't let him steal his sisters rusk.

He's a delight but sometimes I want to get on a train and not come back

That applies to all my children though at times, 11 year old, 9 year old, 3 year old and a 10 month old baby.

WhenTheDragonsCame · 12/02/2016 09:25

I would give everything I own to replace my stroppy hormonal 14 year old for a 3 year old having a tantrum. At least with the 3 year old you will know at some point they will stop and love you again. I think my teenager hates me

ch4rlif4rli · 13/02/2016 18:28

Oh for the love of all things alcoholic AMEN to this. My 3yo actually makes me want to have a tantrum of my own. Have to remove myself from it for 5 minutes whenever possible.
SOLIDARITY
does super top secret mummy on the edge fist bump**

offyoutoddle · 13/02/2016 22:15

And you think they'd grow out of it. My DTs who are five, six in May, are still whingey, whining, bratty children. But of course, they are utter delights to everyone around them. I never remember my other two being this bad.

Muskateersmummy · 13/02/2016 22:21

Has anyone actually located an off switch on their 3 year old? I think I have a faulty one, might send her back.... It's constant!! The talking never stops, not questions but a running commentary... "Look a red car, a blue car, ooh another blue car they match, oh that's gran's bus (all busses belong to gran!), There's a doggy, where is he going?, oh the statue mummy see the statue, mummy mummy mummy ....... "

But yes agree about the sweetness, fell and injured myself on the stairs, now every morning as I lie in bed (signed off work) and she heads off to preschool she says "be careful on the stairs mummy, remember to hold the bannister" ....

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