Does it get any easier after they turn 3

or is it harder then 2?
This last year has been great but totaly the most difficult....at least lately. He's more whiney and all that. Or maybe I'm just having one of those days...where I need a break from him. He won't take a nap. He's been whining all day long....
How can I get him to play by himself for a few minutes? I can't do anything. I can't brush my teeth or pee or take a shower or be alone or even minutes...you folks with more then one...how the fck do you keep your sanity?

 

I have a 5 year old and I used to hear about the terrible 2's but then other parents would tell me it only gets worse. They were right. The communicaton skills get sharper along with the tongue.

 

I agree.....it gets worse, at least it did for me.

Terrible twos were nothing compared to the fours.....yikes! That was a hard time.

 

at least by then you can have some moments to yourself right?I mean they can play and you can take a nap...I'm just so tired.

 

With the exception of one of my five kids, the four to five year times I remember as some of the best. After that it was different for each kid.

 

Some part get better and some are worse. As they get older they can be a little more unsupervised...but not totally. Maddie (6 next month...OMG!!) was very sneaky around 3-4. I would find wrappers and half-eaten things stashed in random places. They can help clean up better. They can semi-keep their rooms clean and wash themselves. But, again, you have to check back on them. Maddie can now take a bath completely by herself, I just have to check to make sure all the shampoo is rinsed from her hair.


Um, they get worse by being sneaky,, mouthy, etc. They can hurt your feelings. You can't use the "she/he doesn't know any better" excuse anymore because (for most things) they do know better. And they want to see what they can get away with. The best thing is to focus on what makes them a great kid at each age level. Don't dwell on the negative. I know it's hard when they are whiney and clingy and you are tired and going crazy...but just try. Sometimes, when I feel like relaxing and Virginia (almost 2) is all over the place, I take a bath with her. I get to chill and the bath seems to calm her down, too. Or, (I know you are anti-tv) but if I am super tired I'll put a movie in my bedroom and she will lay down in the bed with me and watch the movie.

((hugs))

ps they learn to lie, too. At first it is easy to catch, but they get better at it. I usually eventually find out, though.

 

i dont think it's ever easy. different challenges at different stages of development.

 

Easier??,, HA HA HA HA HA
Mine are 5,6,10. It gets harder every year. Yes they don't need the constant watching, but it's a whole different ball game. There are more scary things they want to do that you aren't ready for. They are exposed to more people, they can read and get all kinds of ideas. It's not harder, just different. I'm hoping maybe it gets better after 20?

 

I feel what you're going through. My twins are in that stage and it's pretty tough. I had felt like everything was easy as pie until they started this! I remember feeling the same exact way when my oldest son was their age too.

It's overwhelming at times, but it does get better! There will always be hurdles to jump no matter what age it seems. My 5 year old son just started fibbing and always says "But why?" when we tell him to do something. I never thought I'd ever say it, I vowed I wouldn't, but I did it anyway... "Because I said so, that's why!"

Hugs.

 

This week has been terrible for me too Applespark! I have three, 9, 7 and 23 months, she'll be two next month. And I swear to god this week I really wanted to run away from home!! Or just lay down and sleep for like uhh i don't know..two days!! I haven't felt that frustrated in a long time. They were all sick and I think i've done nothing but clean up puke and shit for three days lmfao!! BUT!! I must say, that in my opinion, it gets much much better after three. They do begin to entertain themselves and in our case, gave us more time to ourselves. I have to say, I don't know what you do for disipline, but I had my first two, two years apart, so when I had a 3 yr old I also had a one yr old lol! And I thought I was going to lose my mind with my first. Nothing worked for disipline on her. Finally I read this book called one two three magic. Now I know that no book solves everything, but this really helped me out alot!! The book stressed on praising all good behavior all the time! But if the child is misbehaving you count them...you show no emotion and count one..and in your head you count five seconds, to start out with, to see if they stop the behavior. When you get to three you time them out. I used thier rooms and when she tried to open the door we installed chains on the outside lol YOu give them a min for however old they are..so your son would be in time out for three min. When they come out you say nothing about the incident, it is done. Within a few days I almost never had to do the time out lol!! I never got to three lolol! She hated being in there alone more than any other punishment I could think of lol! It totally worked on her. She is a sweet, loving, straight A, fourth grader now. The best of luck to you with your son! I know how it is when they are clingy. My youngest is very clingy lol! If you ever want to chat please feel free to drop me a line. I think you will love 4 and 5!

 

that's some great advice!

 

I think 3 is harder than 2. JMO. Two year olds are still babies, and you expect less from them. Three year olds are "kids" and one day they are helping and setting the table and acting "their age" (LOL) and the next day they are clinging and wanting you to carry them and refusing to do things they did the day before.

Ah, it is always hard. My 5 year old (yeah Sage just turned 5) is REALLY whiney lately. She has some allergies we can't get a handle on, and she is misery baby!

I feel for you, Apple. Some days will be better than yesterday.

 

applespark,

sometimes you just have to lock yourself in a room for a couple of minutes! crank the music and make sure he is safe.

sometimes when my daughter(5) is driving me nuts, i just start laughing histerically, then she starts to laugh and it just helps me get my stress out.

i agree that it gets worse when they get older, cuz they start to become more and more independent, and you don't always know what they are up to. i used to know everything my dd was doing, but now i hardly ever do, unless she shows me. i take advantage of the time she spends by herself, but maybe i should start checking up on her more.

when she was 3 we were best buddies, now we are enemies most of the time. it isn't that i don't care anymore, itis just that they start becoming more of "them" and less of "you".

so hang in there. it gets better and it gets worse.
hope this helped. crank the music and burn some incense or candles. watch a show with him, or go for a walk. usually what you are doing can wait, but if it can't, get it done then leave.
breathe!--sweetpeace

 

It's all a trade-off...

You trade one problem for another, until they grow up and move out.

But, babies are more difficult to take care of, because they need more physical attention (IMO). But then, they are easier, because they can't tell you how much they hate you, or what a lousy mom you are because you won't let them eat a bunch of crap before dinner, etc...

So, yah, it's just a trade-off...

 

I've started putting Noah in his playpen in a room by himself with the light on and a few toys to play with for about half an hour a day... usually around 3. He takes a nap at noon, and sometimes one around 5 or 6, depending on what mood he's in. He'll cry for a minute after I put him in there, but just because he's spoiled. He'll play in there for a little while... long enough for me to get a few things done... I take him out when he's ready. I don't force him to stay or anything. Even though it's not usually more than thirty minutes, it helps. You just kind of have to do it every day, so he gets used to it.

He learned to say "no" this week. It's cute now.... but it won't be next week... haha.

Good luck!

 

It sure as hell won't be cute! The first time Virginia said "no", I was all "aww.." Now, it's like "could you possibly say something else?!!?"

 

I like that my son can say no. I know he's learning to assert himself. I don't have to agree with him.
There have been times when I have had to put my son on a timeout in his room just a few where I needed a breather..but mostly I think timeouts work better wiith bigger kids who know whats going on. I know that if he's throwing a fit he's eather tired and needs a nap or he needs to have a change of environment to calm him down. Sometimes I can't always remove him from the situation...I'm too tired or something. I do put on the tv sometimes too...but mostly when I'm gettin g something doen. He's not a bad kid I just get overwhelmed with him and housework and bills etc..yu know...

 

Kids will only be kids once.

They are only babies once.
They are only toddlers once.
They are only teenagers once.
Cherish them now & every day as it can be ripped from you at any second!
Before ya know it they will be independent
and you will feel sad that you aren't as needed.

"Clingy?!" They thrive on Love & attention from you!
There will come a day they won't even want to be seen with you, be seen hugging you or getting a kiss from you, let alone cling!

 

Oh trust me if anyone knows that it;s me. I stay at home just to be with him..his every waking minute with me. Playing, learning, I cherish him so much. There are jsut those moments when you need a break. It's healthy to get a break so that you can come back to your child refreshed and ready to be in the right state of mind again for them. I am with my son morning to night I expect him to be clingy..but I am human and I need my space too sometimes.

 

i hear ya. i get so burnt out sometimes. it a really tough job being a mom.