InstantForum.NET v4.1.3ParentTalk Forumshttp://forums.parentscanada.com/info@parentscanada.comThu, 20 Nov 2008 00:56:07 GMT20http://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxOh yes. Now she's four, but three was a hard year. I met a friend at the store the other day and her little guy just turned three and we were in fact both commiserating and wondering why they call it the terrible twos when the threes are sooooooo much more challenging. My real battles began at three. </P><P><FONT face=Verdana color=#4b6e9d size=2></FONT> </P><P>My daughter wanted to do so much more by herself - and yet unable to actually do a lot of what she wanted to do - know what I mean? I want to make my sandwich. I want to zip the zipper. I want to strap myself in etc... and then would blow completely as she discovered she couldn't do it. Biggest thing was to teach her and remind her how to say help. ..</P><P>It's a neat year in that they are growing independent, but four for both of my daughter's was a big breath of fresh air. Four is nice and social and better able to use words like help. </P><P>PaulaMon, 03 Nov 2008 10:05:14 GMTinkscrblrhttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxI too have a "spirited" 3 year old. I would say it started just before he turned 3. And gradually gotten worse. He can be so loving and caring in one moment. And then, wow you tell him no to something. And he says "yes", and tries to take over. I think I find it frustrating when you try to explain to him why it's no, and he just will NOT listen to reason. Public has to be the worse.Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:46:57 GMTtiddbithttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspx<FONT face=Arial>What a great thread. Yes! We had a tough time when our son was both 2 and 3 years old. Spirited is a great word: he's full of life but also very headstrong.</FONT><P><FONT face=Arial>It's just now, when he's turning 5, that he seems to be able to control his temper and not be quite so ENERGETIC! <img align="absmiddle" src="http://forums.parentscanada.com/Skins/LiquidViolet/Images/EmotIcons/Tongue.gif" border="0" title="Tongue"></FONT></P><P><FONT face=Arial>Parenting is a new experience each day, eh?</FONT>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:38:04 GMTonline-editorhttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxHi: My son is 28 months old now and loves his baby sister (she is 8 months old). He was only 19 months when she was born and I also worried what he would think of her but he really surprised me. He is now very protective of her and always asks "where's Baby". He gives her hugs and kisses - these can get a bit rough but they are not meant to be. I've always let him be involved in everything I do with the baby i.e. he helps change her by handing me the diaper and cream, he helps find her toys to play with and picks them up for her when she drops them, he washes her toes when I bathe her, etc. I think this has really helped lessen the jealousy factor as he feels important and needed by her. They actually share a bedroom and he will go right to sleep if he knows "Baby" is in the other crib. Listening to them "talk" to each other across the room is one of the highlights of my day. It is hard to say how your 3 year old will react when your new baby arrives, but hopefully you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was. Good luck!Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:52:48 GMTmamaneedanaphttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxyes...Nicholas just turned 3 in january. We should have named him Hulk or Conan instead...<br>When he was younger, he was very clingy and dependant, like most are, and i couldnt wait untill he became more independent. Now I am regreting it! Although it does have its advantages, It gets frustrating because he rarely takes no for an answer. And if he is in one of his moods, he'll scream, yell, kick and do what he can to get his point across. I feel the pain of any other mother who has the same issues. Now i am pregnant with my 2nd child and i am due in may. I am concerned about how nicholas will react to the new baby. When i tell him there is a baby in my belly, he tells me NO! ughhh....Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:47:40 GMTtifferroohttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxyessss, I have a son who will be 4 in July, well he is so stubborn and wants things his way or no way, when he was 2 he was the most polite nice tempered child, then 3 hit......Oh well i know he will outgrow it, and im glad i have lots of patience....</P><P>Im also still having issues with the potty training, he goes pee all the time by himeself, its the poop thing that hes so scared of going, he will acually hold it in for days, i finally put him on a stool softner, to ease the pain, but he still will not go on the toilet, he ends up pooping in his shorts, ive tried taking his favorite movies, toys away,but that doesnt work, he will be starting playschool in sept so im really concerned.....Wed, 24 May 2006 12:16:45 GMTTanya28http://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxOMG! I don't want to even think about the 3's being worse than the 2's. We had some really, really bad times with Danica when she was about 2.5, but it's better now. I would call DH and ask if we could sell her on EBay....<img align="absmiddle" src="http://forums.parentscanada.com/Skins/LiquidViolet/Images/EmotIcons/Wink.gif" border="0" title="Wink">. I can't imagine it getting worse. Don't get me wrong, she still says no, usually before we're done asking/telling her something (which is pretty funny when you're asking her if she wants ice cream and she says no just to say no!) but the tantrums and not being able to control her (literally arms and legs flailing around) are over. Please, please don't let them come back.Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:16:58 GMTDanicasmumhttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxI have heard over and over that the 3's are worse than the 2's... and i am in the same boat... </P><P>I have a 6 month old who I know is going to be a little bundle of joy (sense the scarcasm) in her toddler years! She is a doll but i can see her father in her already...Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:28:12 GMTkhrystenahttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxmy 9 month old is very determine when she sees stuff she goes right after it so I do not want to knwo what she going to be like at 2 or 3 years oldFri, 14 Apr 2006 17:38:22 GMTpuckthefoolhttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxMy youngest stepson was 3 when I met him-and he was going thru a phase where he would just cry/yell and expect us to understand why he was unhappy. LOL-when I think back on it, I'm surprised it didn't drive me crazy, LOL. He was still quite a sweetie-we just learned how to give him the right mix of attention and space. And it helped that his older brother could usually tell me what DSS wanted.Wed, 12 Apr 2006 14:03:08 GMTMrsEhttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxIt does get better with 4, Bresco...haha. Mine is 9 and the three's for him anyway were the worst, but you were so on the money about independance and such....especially the "NO'S"....gee, wonder where he learned that word from.....<img align="absmiddle" src="http://forums.parentscanada.com/Skins/LiquidViolet/Images/EmotIcons/Whistling.gif" border="0" title="Whistling">Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:03:42 GMTskellerhttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxI'm so with you on that. The 2's were nothing compared to the 3's. I guess it was our parents who said that the 2's were terrible. Not sure what THEY were thinking. <br><br>The 3's are full of independence and motivation to get it. I have a 3 1/2 year old and he is always trying to show his independence. Tantrums occasionally, and the neverending NO's. It is all a part of growing up. However, I always try to curb the behaviours that are associated with this stage. Hopefully it gets better when he is 4. Yeah, right??????Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:06:21 GMTbrescohttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxI'm lucky so far. I only have a 2yr old who very seldom throws a fit but I can tell it's becomming more often and he became another child when my mom was visiting us for 4 weeks. He was having such a fit that I stuck him in his bedroom and shut the door so he wouldn't escape and he just screamed the whole time and was in just a rage he tore all his wall stickers off that he could reach and even tore 1 in half. Thankfully that was the first and only time I've seen him do that but I know it's not gonna be the last time.Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:51:16 GMTviolet1amythesthttp://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxMy son who is now 7 was very headstrong, we used to call him "spirited". He is better now but still has his moments. His younger brother is now becoming a mini Dallas, the things he does and says sound just like him. I also have a 2 year old and she is very headstrong. She is full blown terrible 2's and I can see it will get worse as she gets older. Sometimes I think it is great they will be able to stick up for themself when they get older but trying to deal with it now is a huge pain.Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:18:45 GMTmomto5http://forums.parentscanada.com/Topic107-15-1.aspxAnyone else have a VERY headstrong three year old???Wed, 05 Apr 2006 16:11:49 GMTamazon74