Please tell me it gets easier once they turn 4...

kpips20 · June 2012

Ever since he turned 3 DS has gone from a pleasant, sweet boy to a non-listening tantrum throwing maniac! I've always heard that the "terrible twos" don't hit until they're 3 so I was expecting this but oy...I may not make it through this year. Please someone tell me at some point my sweet kid will come back to me!!

la79al · June 2012

I've heard 4 is better and I'm still waiting. I think the sweet innocent child is probably gone forever. The best I am hoping for is someone that can compromise and accept the word 'no'.

Jinsy80 · June 2012

Nope. I'm hoping 5 is better!

Paigeo · June 2012

Knock on wood but yes for us so far 4 has been much better! We still occasionally have moments but she doesn't seem to meltdown over tiny things anymore.

AgrippaRidesAgain · June 2012

Both the intensity amd frequency of meltdowns have diminished for DS. In some cases, they have been replaced by weird self defeating declarations--if you won't.read that story to me, well, I just won't ever ask you to read any books ever again!--and a penchant for sulking and announcing that he is mad at you, but I find all of these much easier to deal with.

Court0026 · June 2012

I hope so! DS isn't very "likeable" right now. I love him to pieces, but dang! Grouchy, moody and irrational about everything. My bestie said 4 and 5 were the golden years!

shopgirl78 · June 2012

Since age 2 every year has gotten better for my DD...we have had a couple of blimps lately but there have been a lot of changes...I think the same stands for my son though he is harder (in some ways) than DD ever was....

lady_tytah · June 2012

Our 2's,3's,and 4's were great. It was untill I got pregnant and so far yr 5 has been rocky. I am hoping once baby comes and she realizes mommy isnt going anywhere she's go back to my independent 'no crying over a lost back of earring' big girl. We'll see.

Temp6313048411121614 · June 2012

4's been pretty good to us in comparison. He still is whiney and throws tantrums, but he's not the huge PITA he was at 3. Everyone talks about the terrible 2's, nobody warns you about the 3's.

kpips20 · June 2012

So basically there may be a glimmer of hope...I'll take it!

shouldbworkin · June 2012

Yes, and then it gets worse again. As they get closer to 5, they get ino another "I want to get my way all the time" phase. And, they get sassy. It's super fun!

schmidters10 · June 2012

I seem to have a mixture of all of yours. My DD is 3 1/2 and she has the complete meltdowns, but is also very into telling me she is mad at me and why when she is. It normally is something like you made me go to bed or eat something. I am hoping that it all disapears at 4. She does seem to get better since she knows she is getting a little sister.

KL777 · June 2012

4 is better than 3 but 4 is still rough.

auburnbride2be · June 2012

Do you want me to lie?? Seriously, 3 was worse than 2 and then it smoothed out. She's about to be 4 and WOW. That's all I can say. I think it has to do with the fact that we have baby #2 on the way.

jallascalla · June 2012

We never really had the terrible 2's for DS, but we did have the terrible 3's for sure (I was not prepared for it, I thought we lucked out of the 2's), and then something miraculous happened right around four, for the most part we have our sweet son back.

CarolinaDaisy · June 2012

Nope. I think 4 has been harder so far....not in all ways. But the tantrums....YIKES! I think that 3.5 was hard...then it smoothed out until he turned 4. Now we're in a rocky phase again, but I'm sure this phase will smooth out soon as well.

It seems like the half ages and then right around birthday is rough for him. Must be some sort of developmental stuff going on...that's my guess anyhow.

I think every age is hard in its own ways. Once I had a 2 year old figured out....he turned 3. Once we had 3 under control....he turned 4. The major things I've noticed about 4 is an increase in his determination to have things exactly how he wants. He's even more particular about which car his brother plays with, etc. He is getting bossier at the playground as well.

Unfortunately, it can make getting out of the house in the morning a bit harder. He needs exactly the right shirt, shorts, underwear, socks and shoes. Seriously, he will ask for a specific pair of undies if he can't find them in the drawer....not good if they are in the wash!

But good luck....the sweet kid is still in there, just keep reminding yourself. He'll peek out soon!

jlw2505 · June 2012

Totally depends on the kid. DD#1 has always been an easier kid even with her ADHD and speech delays - she has tantrums and then its over and you move on. She is a pleaser. My 4 year old (March b-day) is super stubburn and never forgets anything. She knows what she wants and does whatever it takes until she can get it and often, it doesn't end the way she wants!!! She can be hard but she is easier in other ways than her sister - she is a smart cookie and uses it for both good and bad. Just very different personalites and with every age, they have gone through it very differently.

neverblushed · June 2012

Mom of older kiddos here!

It does get better. A 3 year old is a preschooler in terms of physical and cognitive development but still has much in common with the toddler set in terms of emotional and social development.

For my DD, the 2s were "terrible." Seriously, she said "no" more than any child I've ever dealt with, before or since. My son, on the other hand, was a pleasant, adorable 2 year old. He transformed into an obnoxious, anxious, freaky, negative, defiant mess at age 3. By age 4 he was a pleasant, adorable child again.

ridesbuttons · June 2012

It gets easier.

BMenz · June 2012

Paigeo:
Knock on wood but yes for us so far 4 has been much better! We still occasionally have moments but she doesn't seem to meltdown over tiny things anymore.

Same here! BUT I think it has to do with getting ds into a center daycare/preschool where it's VERY structured

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