MOOKS, describe the terrible twos.

[unclejesse]

Give it to me straight, what am I in for?  We are dealing with a strong willed little man lately, and I wonder how much worse it's gonna get?  Last night he was mad at dad for not using the correct supply cup.  He screamed and then came at me, cup in hand raised in the air, and hurled it at me, as if to say "FIX THIS!"

We have had a rough two days and he easily spent a good 7 hours total crying this weekend.

[EmmieB1025]

Jun 25, 2013 19:46:43 GMT -5 unclejesse said:

Give it to me straight, what am I in for?  We are dealing with a strong willed little man lately, and I wonder how much worse it's gonna get?  Last night he was mad at dad for not using the correct supply cup.  He screamed and then came at me, cup in hand raised in the air, and hurled it at me, as if to say "FIX THIS!"

We have had a rough two days and he easily spent a good 7 hours total crying this weekend.

This sounds exactly like what we're dealing with here too!  He's been a terror since Friday and has screamed to the point his voice is hoarse.  I dread 2s if it gets worse!!

[devonpow]

3 is worse than 2. 2 had a decent amount of tantrums, but basically just over frustration/inability to communicate. 3 was psychologically/emotionally taxing. "Give 'em to the Gypsies 3's" I call them.

4 and beyond is a dream

[joyhart02]

It is horrible. We are still having remnants of it with my 3.5 year old. I actually think the 3's are worse.

Lydia has become super sassy and I just put her in a time out (a threat of a time out usually works enough). She worked herself up so much she threw up all of her dinner. . I am one sad mamma. All because I wanted her to eat one more grape.

Just work through it. With Lydia she would be crazy angry one minute and then completely fine the next.

Yesterday she started screaming in the car because her flip flop fell off!

[llamajockey]

I feel like we may be dealing with the same thing! She is rowdy and loud right now!She threw herself on the floor at Publix the other day because I wouldn't let her grab cans off the shelf to throw on the floor.

With DD1 we didn't have the terrible two's, instead she's going through the super sucky sixes right now. Maybe our babes are starting the TT's right now and we will get through it by the time they're two?? Haha, here's to wishing, right?

[llamajockey]

Jun 25, 2013 19:49:40 GMT -5 devonpow said:

4 and beyond is a dream

Not for us! 6 has been horrible for us! She is so sassy and rolls her eyes. It is no fun!

[devonpow]

Jun 25, 2013 19:53:41 GMT -5 llamajockey said:

Jun 25, 2013 19:49:40 GMT -5 devonpow said:

4 and beyond is a dream

Not for us! 6 has been horrible for us! She is so sassy and rolls her eyes. It is no fun!

Ahhh...but that is boys vs. girls I say Among my group of friends, those of us with boys were pulling our hair out until 4, those with girls are pulling their hair out now  

[wildcatprincess]

I barely remember 2, 3 is so horrible right now. Soooooo horrible.

[llamajockey]

devonpow it makes me think back on all of the times I felt sorry for my friends with boys who were acting wild and crazy! Now, I'm sure they look at me with pity in their eyes! Girls are rough, thank goodness for wine! 

[fusion]

2 hasn't been so bad, but J is an easy kid. Anna is already throwing tantrums that Jameson never did at this age.

[musiclover]

Um...... 2 was a breeze compared to the devil that is 3. 3 really tested me so badly. 4 is way better.
I thought I had the perfect child till he turned 3.5. Up until 3.5 it was just a lot of acting very independent and needing to do everything himself.
But 3...... It makes me shudder in fear.

[katfco]

It really depends on the child. DD went through phases that lasted a few months here and there. The challenges changed, but honestly, every year has its own challenges.

[EmmieB1025]

I shouldn't have read the replies! I'm scared!! Maybe I should start buying a bottle of wine a week to be prepared!!

[charlielove]

I will agree with everyone else and say 3 is so much worse than 2. The terrible 2's were not so bad for is, but 3 had me ripping my hair out.

C is very strong-willed too, and at 2, there were tantrums, a lot of times over lack of communication, being frustrated, not getting her way. At 3 you get the emotions/psychological stuff mixed in and it gets a lot more complex.

[dixeedeluxe]

My strategy is to think of it as part of parenting. That THIS is what kids are like. That way, I am able to handle it rationally and not wish time away.

Along with tantrums, there are also amazing things that come along with late toddlerhood. Talking, opinions, imaginative play....

[dixeedeluxe]

Another important thing to remember is THEY MIGHT STOP NAPPING before you want them to. But embracing activity and not forcing naps makes life easier.

My kid is not yet 3, though. But she's very strong willed and tantrum-prone. On a good note, my patience has grown times a bazillion!

[TrudyCampbell]

I am going to die when my kid stops napping. DIEEEEEE.

[devonpow]

Jun 25, 2013 20:33:57 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

I am going to die when my kid stops napping. DIEEEEEE.

H stopped napping at 2.5. I did what my mom did for me and strictly enforced "quiet time". It started as being in his bed, reading books or listening to books on tape. Then moved to playing quietly in his room. Then to playing whatever in his room. Then when he was 4/4.5 it turned into "don't bug mom" time and he could play anywhere in the house, but independently. Then he went to kindergarten! We used the clock that changed color to let him know how long quiet time was. That thing is genius. Genius, I tell you. 

[dixeedeluxe]

yeah. quiet time works for us until edie decides to smear her poop all over her crib. i really hope 3 isn't worse than this.

[charlielove]

Hah, I will echo dixee and say I have become a much more patient person. And along with all the hard stuff they just get more and more fun as they get older too. There is a lot to look forward to!

[musiclover]

Jun 25, 2013 20:31:13 GMT -5 dixeedeluxe said:

My strategy is to think of it as part of parenting. That THIS is what kids are like. That way, I am able to handle it rationally and not wish time away.

Along with tantrums, there are also amazing things that come along with late toddlerhood. Talking, opinions, imaginative play....

Yep, just keep reminding yourself that they are learning how to handle their new emotions and you need to dig real deep somedays to maintain a high level of Patience. Part of how I got through the tougher times was reminding myself that he was learning how to navigate life with these new emotions, and did not have the skill set to do so yet.

[devonpow]

Jun 25, 2013 20:41:11 GMT -5 dixeedeluxe said:

yeah. quiet time works for us until edie decides to smear her poop all over her crib. i really hope 3 isn't worse than this.

I do freely admit I got lucky with Henry, and thus far Elliot is much more of a holy terror, so quiet time will likely not work for him. All two kids has taught me is that all the things I thought I was a stellar parent for actually had nothing to do with my parenting. It's just personality. 

[musiclover]

Yes, never ever give up on quiet time. At 4.5 Adam still spends 1-1.5 hrs after lunch quietly playing in his room. That is myyyyyyyyyy time!!!!!!

[dixeedeluxe]

Jun 25, 2013 20:45:14 GMT -5 devonpow said:

Jun 25, 2013 20:41:11 GMT -5 dixeedeluxe said:

yeah. quiet time works for us until edie decides to smear her poop all over her crib. i really hope 3 isn't worse than this.

I do freely admit I got lucky with Henry, and thus far Elliot is much more of a holy terror, so quiet time will likely not work for him. All two kids has taught me is that all the things I thought I was a stellar parent for actually had nothing to do with my parenting. It's just personality. 

I have a friend who is a really amazing mother of 3 and a teacher.  For her oldest, quiet time was a book and a flashlight in her bed.  But that didn't work for her middle one.  He got TV in his room for his quiet time!  Sometimes, whatever it takes.  

(littlest is a baby and still naps)

[llamajockey]

All of these years I thought I was the only one who was forced to have quiet time when I was younger!

Have to agree with you gals, things do get better with the ages! I want to run away sometimes and 6 is sucky, but when Abby sits down and reads me a book at night or writes me a story about how much she loves me, it makes it all worth it! (The wine helps too)

[UnicornDog]

Jun 25, 2013 20:32:55 GMT -5 dixeedeluxe said:

Another important thing to remember is THEY MIGHT STOP NAPPING before you want them to.

[Deleted]

I'm afraid we've been dealing with early forms of terrible two's for at least 2 months now. My child gets frustrated at the drop of a hat, and is VERY strong willed, as well as stubborn. Oh, and he has a temper. I need a breather before we hit the ACTUAL terrible twos. And I agree that 3 year olds are usually worse. Way worse.

[Deleted]

Jun 25, 2013 19:59:41 GMT -5 devonpow said:

Jun 25, 2013 19:53:41 GMT -5 llamajockey said:

Not for us! 6 has been horrible for us! She is so sassy and rolls her eyes. It is no fun!

Ahhh...but that is boys vs. girls I say Among my group of friends, those of us with boys were pulling our hair out until 4, those with girls are pulling their hair out now  

Same in my group of friends.  Not hoping to jinx myself but my 4 year old DS has been so pleasant and civilised lately.  And yes, 3 was horrible for us

[kkfeb04]

I had a mostly nonverbal 2 year old with sensory issues and transition issues and we threw a baby in the mix. IT WAS NOT GOOD BOSS. I'm not lying when I say we were on an 8 month transition. He finally really starting to incorporate Katelyn in his life around his 3rd birthday and she was here a year and we had 3 different therapists with EI from 18 months on and it was still an issue.

3 isn't bad but he's probably closer to 2.5 speech wise. We let him feel like he's in control with giving choices. We do a lot of Kalvin would you this or that (both are our desired tasks) but we let him decide. We also don't stop the tantrum and let him calm down on his own. We do continue whatever it was to cause the tantrum. Last Thursday, he didn't want to wash his hands. I kept telling him the steps and I washed his hands through the tantrum. His therapist praised me for not stopping and just continuing the task. He calmed himself down and ate.

Again, I will say, I HAD TO PROVE I WAS HIS MOTHER in the epic tantrum at HersheyPark. Lots of kicking and screaming not mommy. My driver's license and health insurance card with his name and my name along with DH (who was off with Katelyn) had to be shown to security. Katelyn's tantrums are laughable in comparison. She witnesses his and she tries to be over dramatic and she gets pissy if you laugh at her.

Most tantrums for us were based on frustration at the lack of communication. He had no words at 18 months, about 10-15 words along with sign at 2 years, he's no where near his peers but he has about 100-150 words in rotation and probably many more. I understand him better than DH so he doesn't throw a tantrum with me typically.

Again, I don't have the typical child so my experience will greatly vary from others.

[thedahliharpa]

This thread is giving me anxiety because it has reminded me that I will have another 3 year old eventually. We are barely out of the woods at 4.5 but the last year has sucked my soul away. Now we mostly just have a ton of sass. I will run away if we have to deal with the treacherous 3s AND sucky 6s at the same time.
I thought the 2s were cute and hilarious.