Are parenting experts actually… parents? Being one myself, I have a serious bone to pick with them: The “terrible twos” are crap. The hell on earth I want to stuff my child in a dresser drawer and take a three hour bath while consuming a bottle of wine “terrible threes” are more like it. Or, is it just me?
Lily hit a rough patch around 18 months that ended well before she turned two. Her second year was a pleasure. I remember boasting to my childless friends, who were too naive to clue me in on what was to come, that we must have skipped the terrible twos altogether. How lucky we were! And then she turned three. Hellooooo, devil child. She suddenly had an opinion about everything. She stopped cooperating for anything and began talking back. Her baby brother fell victim to her wrath, more than once bearing evidence in the form of teeth marks. Where had my little angel gone? It was awful. But it was over as quickly as it began and the following year was pretty much a breeze.
Ben seems to be continuing on the same track. Two was fabulous. Adorable, chocolate covered sweetness with just the occasional hint of difficulty. But like clockwork, at a few months over three, he has become a little argumentative pain in the ass. He has developed some serious selective listening. He suddenly has great interest in his attire. Stripes are stupid and brown looks like poop. He refuses to wear appropriate coats and even has begun giving me input on my clothing choices. He eats three foods willingly: Grilled cheese, macaroni and grapes. Anything else results in kicking and screaming for the both of us. Meltdowns are an everyday occurrence and he appears to thrive on pissing me off. Funny as he thinks he is, I’m less than amused. He can be pretty… terrible.
The good news is, if Lily was any indication, this phase will be short lived. The bad news? Evan isn’t far behind. God help me.
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I whole heartedly agree. My number three is right in the middle of his terrible threes and it’s well, terrible.
.-= Peaches´s last blog ..The Big Give. =-.
I am getting mixed emotions reading the comments. I have girl turning three in two months and an only boy going 4 and a half in a couple of months as well (the two other siblings are college a college freshie and a sophie).
I had recently quit a fifteen-year career (finally) so I may be able to watch the terrible twos(?), threes and even fours to unfold before our eyes. Sadistic, yeah but those are some of the episodes I will tell them about when they grow up, (i did not have much to say about the first two as they were darling angels) as much as the happy (cute) moments.
It’s not to say I don’t work as full-time referee, (and cheerer, cash register, cook and nanny) but it takes my anguish (and momentary fits of anger) away because I get lost in those moments when I try to take mental pictures, simply because my camera isn’t around most of time when I need to film my actors.
I lost most of the chance with my teenagers, I wouldn’t want to screw these last two chances … again
i agree. three is kind of awful. :-(
.-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Cookies! Everything is Better with Cookies! =-.
I either have selective memory or had an extremely idealic bunch (5) of kids…including boy/girl twins ‘n a 15 month old girl next in line….essentially triplets…LOL….my older two boys were great also….honestly there were so few memorable issues…until…………………………………..
2006 I brought my youngest adult DD ‘n her 10 day old son into my life ‘n home….I essentially was coparenting him…about a year later she was able to strike out on her own successfully…..however, she works in the medical field with alternating shifts…many 12 hrs….I am alternate daycare…meaning all weekends, nights, etc….
Here is where there incredibly exasperating terrible threes come in! My Stars ‘n Garters! I am 60 years old….LOL ‘n there is not enough wine in the world to compensate….LOL…it is a constant battle of wills, mouthiness, meltdowns, etc….How did this loving little boy I refer to as Himself become this creature?! DD ‘n I were discussing his latest meltdown he had for me ‘n I said “Honey I simply do not remember any of you having these kind of reactions.” She has a steel trap memory for family trivia…LOL….’n she agreed, saying neither do I mom….
You are not alone young mothers…..we oldsters are experiencing it also :)
I’m so glad I saw this! My son is three and is suddenly such a horrible person to share a home with that it led me to start my own blog about it. I felt like this 3-year-old phase needs to be better publicized!! We need to know about this shit! Like you, I spent his 2′s blissfully happy that we seemed to skip the terrible part. He was so hilarious, sweet and kind. Now he is not kind, he is not sweet, but he’s still hilarious. I love him so, so, so much…when he’s sleeping.
Wow. My son has no grandparents for me to push him off on and frequently tells me he wants a new mommy. One day in tears and frustration, I packed his lil Batman backpack and took him to Taco Bell. I told him to choose one…anyone he wanted. Of course he conceded and wanted me….til we got back in the car. he wasnt my friend and didnt like me. He tells me to sleep on the couch and he will sleep in my room and tries to “make” me cook his dinner when he demands it. My son speaks very well and is very smart so I sometimes forget he is a child. I have picked up quite a few bad words and a very short fuse in the last 6 months…God help me! Thanks ladies.
Love this! Yes, I am also in the middle of the 3 year old hellstorm. I naively thought the mild difficulties of the 18 months-two year old ages were the “terrible twos”, and when they subsided, all was well. Yeah, until my once easy-going child turned three, and the defiance and daily power struggles started. Can’t say I’m not entertained though, when he says “I don’t LIKE that!!!” or tells me “no sit down in chair”, as he sits down in the chair to eat dinner. Hilarious the level of control that he wants to have over every single thing. It did make me feel better when his preschool teacher told me that she thinks about her preschooler “how can I not control my own child, when I control a whole classroom full of children each day?” It always helps to know that you are not alone w/your three year old. Looking forward to 4, and crossing my fingers that it’ll be easier.
OMG! Just stumbled upon this blog at the perfect time. I have spent the whole morning in tears wondering if we will make it through the terrible 3′s or not. You made me laugh. I love mom’s who can be real about the feelings of motherhood….if more were then there wouldn’t be the postpardom depression…can you have postpardom three years after birth?? Ha!Ha!
My daughter is 3.5 years old. Up to age 3 she was absolutely perfect! I felt so lucky…she had my temperament! Then, omg…overnight she changed. Lots of possible reasons…these all happened at once: increased time with dad, started preschool, mom got new boyfriend, nasty cold that lasted months. Yesterday she had a full on tantrum in a crowded airport because I wouldn’t let her push the stroller onto the plane. She tells me to “go away right now!” and is quite bossy. I have to remind her now to ask nicely…I have older children and I remember the three’s being the worst…quite irrational. It comes on strong,and then its over. Be consistent, and loving. Its hard, but don’t respond in anger.
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