Argh the threenager help!

[Strawberry881]

My youngest is 3 and a half and just recently has become a real handful. Very demanding and wanting my attention all the time when we are home alone. Constantly asking for snacks even though just finished eating a big meal. I can’t really do any jobs in the daytime so we prefer to be out of the house but there’s only so much softplay we can take!

After we pick up the older children from school it really ramps up a level. The 10 minute car journey home is torture - screaming, shouting, doing anything to stop me talking to the other children. Demanding more snacks and screaming when I say no. Generally ruining every activity the older ones try to do (on purpose eg throwing Lego).

Im often parenting solo for 10-12 hours a day with no family nearby and it’s absolutely draining. Bedtime is usually done by OH and can take 1-2 hours meaning we don’t get much adult time after ‘chores’ are done.

Any suggestions please?

What's changed recently in his life?

I hear ya. Mine is now nearly 4 and was an absolute horror most of the summer. Has settled better now back at nursery but still moments.

I almost crashed reversing the other day with the shouting. Thankfully not a tantrum but shouting about an aeroplane.

Your not alone. It does get better my oldest is 9 and an absolute delight now.

I either just let it play out if not too bad or it's straight to room until calmed down.

Yup my boy turned 3 in August and I was feeling quite good we seemed to have missed the terrible twos.
But alas! Threenager appeared.
You just have to start firm. It is a phase and a test and they will change again soon enough.
Actually this last week my son does seem to have settled down a bit although he is unwell so maybe it's just down to that...

Anyway, I feel ya.

Thanks everyone.

Dont think much has changed apart from there has been a bit less nursery because of the summer holidays.

Getting back to school for the older kids so less people to play with. But seems to want just me all the time, can’t go to the toilet on my own etc, wants me to sit next to them every meal time rather than another child. Really dislikes having to take other kids to their activities. I’m struggling to even put one load of washing away during the day time.

the car journeys are the worst because the middle child gets upset and also starts crying and getting hysterical and the oldest tries to get involved but ends up shouting at everyone.

worst is they know they are doing it! Said ‘tomorrow I’m going to nursery, I’m going to be really good, I’m not going to do any screaming or shouting like I did at home’

argh!

Dd missed the terrible twos with dgs but he is a real threenager. He has gone into pre school screaming this morning that he doesn't want to go in the dinosaur room (there isn't one) or stand on keyworker's chair (she doesn't have a particular chair and he's never had to stand on one before). He was screaming that he didn't want to come home yesterday. He's had a lovely day again today completely forgetting he was upset within minutes . He seems to want to make a drama out of everything, I suppose like everything else it is a phase that will pass.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! My threenager is a big fan of the foot stomp. Combine that with an uncanny ability to absorb our disciplinary style and try to turn it around to discipline us! "No mummy, that's very naughty! Bring me iPad RIGHT NOW!"

Sorry no suggestions other than patience and ignoring...

Thanks all. I guess good to hear it’s not just e having this problem. It’s very draining and it really affects the other kids