Is 4 really better than 3?

FutureMrsCaesar

Please say yes!!

DS1 was a terrible two so I thought we might get off the hook with the 3s but, nope!

When he is being good he's so much fun and a hilarious little boy, but when he's bad, he's soooo bad!

ironmommy

I sure hope so!

Although, I will say that I am already seeing some positive changes in Lily. She seems to understand when she's tired and know that she needs to take a break. And she has pretty much stopped throwing tantrums when we leave the park, zoo, Grandparents house, etc. But the attitude is bad news! Her latest drama-ridden statement when she's upset: "I don't want to be part of this family any more!"

Can you even imagine what this will be like when she's 15?

Jinsy80

Not with my daughter. She is worse at 4! I'm hoping 5 will be a good year.

franciscaz

Hopefully!

Court0026

My bestie calls 4-5 the "golden years".  LOL.  Her DD is 6.  She said she hardly left the house with her from 2-3 ("toddler angst" years). 

ToBeMrsT

NO! It has been awful so far-- DS's birthday was January 4th. 

kmhunt11

I just got off the phone with my mom and I mentioned that nice Christmas DD has been so wonderful.  She immediately said "Honey, that's what 4 is like!"  Hoping she's right and the terrible 3's are behind us.  

howleyshell

HELLLLLLL yes!

My oldest turned a major corner at 3.5

My youngest waited for almost his 4th birthday exactly before deciding that making me grey and pushing every button I have were not his ultimate goals in life.

It gets better.

Hang in there, Mamma! 

AgrippaRidesAgain

Oh, howleyshell, I really hope this is true for us. DS is pushing every button we knew about and many that we didn't.

Paigeo

I hope so! We never had terrible 2's but age 3 has been tough! I would say things have already improved since DD turned 3.5.

cecee36

In the case of my daughter, some things have been better at 4.  Certain behaviors have improved and some....well, our expectations are they they'll improve eventually, as long as we keep reinforcing good decision making and creating good habits.  

For instance, sleeping has gotten SO much better.  She doesn't put up a fuss or try to "stall" from getting the process started.  Self-hygiene habits have also gotten better: she bathes and dresses herself and is even excited about flossing. Because she can do those things on her own and WANTS to do them on her own, that is one less thing that I find we argue about and because those minutes add up, I have more "me" time.

Some behaviors haven't improved and then we have new things that come up. Here, we're dealing with talking back, keeping a tidy room, and following instructions the FIRST time.  Granted, these are all difficult things for any child to master so we're hopeful that eventually these concepts will sink in and we'll see some changes soon.   

shopgirl78

With my DD, 4.5+ has been pretty good.  5&6 have been uneventful mostly. 

DS1 was a a hard 3-3.5 but he got better.  He is getting in trouble at school now since turning 4 but I have relatively few problems with him.  I do think 4 was better but I had less bad reports at daycare at 3 than I am getting from the school at 4. 

gr8fulaa

Much better for us! DS skipped the terrible twos, but 3 was just not good! 4 is waaaaaaay better!

jsugrin

So much better.  I swear preschools came to be invented because mother's wanted to sell their 3 year old to the circus and run away , I kid, sort of.  I've got DS #1 who turned 4 in Nov and DS #2 who will be 3 end of Feb.  It's like watching the tide roll in and out at our house, #1 has just settled again and become the loving, thoughtful like man I thought was gone and #2 in the last month alone has gone from being Mr.Mellow to 90% screaching fits all.day.long.  He is constantly pissed off because he wanted to show us something, no he wanted only to show it to brother, only mama can take his socks off, he has to do it himself and in the order,manner, whatever he expected of he freaks the eff out and it has to all be redone to fit his little brain or he freaks out.  It's totally exhausting.  I tell myself I deserve every minute of it because up until this point he's been the easiest kid on the planet (total opposite of #1) but good lord I can't wait until he's past this phase.

DeputiesWife

4 is definitely MUCH more sassy in my case -- and she has learned to really express her opinions. 

BUT she is much more helpful and realizes things that if she doesnt do something I ask or talks to me a certain way that she will have privileges revoked.  

shouldbworkin

Depends on the kid.  For DD, no.  Three wasn't that bad with her, though.  Four, specifically 4.5, is hell!  DS was a handful at 3 and not much better at 4. 

LDQAM516

I wish I could say yes!  When he is alone he is an ANGEL...but him and DD are constantly at each other and he is the antagonist.  He is always stealing toys from her and making her mad...which drives me nuts!  It doesn't help that it is Winter and we are stuck inside most of the time.  He goes through periods of being REALLY whiney and down right difficult...Iam hoping FOUR is better!

pea-kay

So far, yes! Not as much whining and crying, they fight less, are more self-sufficient. They're learning so much, SO FAST, it's awesome.

Of course, the first couple of months of 3 weren't too bad, either. Fingers crossed 4 stays like this!

futrkingsley

Oh god I hope so because 3 had kicked my butt.  It was better around the holidays (aw how sweet!) but now that apparently the promise of Santa is gone, he is back to fits of ... ugly?  I'm not even sure how to describe it!

 

karleegirl

Both of my boys were very hard at 3. 4 was great. Ds2 just turned 5 and has been giving my husband hell. I'm not sure if it's out of jealousy for the new baby coming or he's just being hard. Ds1 is16 and such an easy kid so there is hope.

WestCoastMommy

3 has been Hell!!! I am banking on everything for 4 to be better!

macchiatto

I really hope so! 2 was tough and 3 so far isn't any easier. It doesn't help that both my boys have been resistant with self-help skills (one has delays and I wonder if the other one refuses to try doing certain things for himself b/c he wants more attention) so they're still not that independent yet compared to other 3-year-olds. Some things are easier now (e.g. they finally play with each other sometimes!) but some of the attitude and defiance we've been getting have escalated.