Houston Babies

Moms of kids 4+: Question about the Terrible Threes

Does it get better at 4?  I feel like we hit a peak or maybe a new low today, depending on how you look at it.  I sure miss my sweet little agreeable boy.  Will he be back soon?  At least he is good at school and on errands, usually.  Off to pour a glass of wine. :) 

Re: Moms of kids 4+: Question about the Terrible Threes

  • I've heard it gets better... lol

    It hasn't for us yet.  If anything, we're in the midst of the worst it's been yet.  :(   She throws her self on the ground, kicks, screams, etc... when it's really bad.  But mostly it's just whining and crying, which IMO is just as bad as the other.  I can't even say it's b/c she's tired at the end of the day... On the weekends, when she's slept until she's ready to get up, it still starts pretty quickly after she's awake... All you have to tell her is "we have to eat breakfast and change clothes before you go out to play" and all hell breaks loose.  It sucks.  :(  I tell DH pretty regular that she literally sucks all the fun out of everything we do these days because of her whining and fit throwing.  I pray everyday that it gets better! lol

    ~*~Jenn~*~
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  • I thought it would get better at 4.  Everyone told me that it would. 

    Many things are better, for example she understands logic and can be reasoned with.  In lots of ways she's definitely more mature.  Her behavior is much more predictable.  But oh my - the sassing!  And her whining and dramatics are epic some days.  She's got to have her way at all costs, so I pick my battles carefully.  

    This is my roundabout way of saying I've pinned my hopes on age 5 and full-time kindergarten!  Stick out tongue

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  • I noticed a big change around 3.5.  Now a stranger observing him may say that he is terror, but he is so much better than he was. 
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  • For us, it definitely got better at 4, and keeps getting better as he gets older.  Not easy, but easiER.

    But I will say, I had to let go of the idea that my sweet agreeable little boy would come back.  I'm not saying he's not sweet, and he's definitely easier to be with as he's gotten older.  But he'll never go back to that place where he thought I hung the moon and could do no wrong.  He's still a mama's boy, but he's got his own opinions now, and practices free will.  :)

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  • Right around age 4 the blatant disobeying stopped ... but then Little Miss Sassy Pants came to stay!  I think that's probably more a girl thing though.  She started behaving much better, but got very sassy very quickly.  Now (age 6) she's still sassy, but much better at controlling her sass and is well behaved. 
    Abbie Rose 9.26.2004
    Collin Thayne 10.11.2010
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  • Well, our boys are pretty close in age and I am in the thick of naughty hell. It has to get better, because it can't get worse. LOL!
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  • YES!  Our 3's were terrible!!!!  He still has his fits every now and then but at least it is not almost daily as it was from 3-4.  Hang in there and enjoy that wine :)
  • Thanks, everyone.  The past day and a half have been better, and I did start giving stickers to encourage good behavior and really praising every time he makes a good choice.  Any time he starts to slip a little, I'm trying to pretend I'm my MIL, who is so calm and funny with kids.  Hopefully it will help.
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