Age 3 comes with attitude?

What's the deal with 3? I think it might be worse than 2. The girls are typically very sweet and generally cooperative, but words such as "NO" and phrases like "Don't talk to me" have somehow entered into their vocabulary. The "Don't talk to me" thing has come from daycare, as they are having a problem with all of the kids in their class saying it. <_<

I'm sure that to a point, this is a stage, but is anyone else experiencing this and how are you handling it?

Right now, the "Don't talk to me" thing gets them sent straight to time out. And the "NO" issue is a little more difficult. They seem to do this as they know DH and I will react to this...even if it's with negative attention. I'm wondering now, if ignoring it might work better?

Any thoughts?

 

Oh yeah, we've got little attitudes here as well. I have always thought 3 was worse than 2. I think it's bad that 2 gets the bad rap! Anyway, I pretty much ignore it unless it gets out of hand. If it gets out of hand, we do timeouts. Abigail LOVES to say "don't talk to me", so I just don't talk to her and give her a stern look. My DH tries to reason with them, but I keep telling him to just ignore them until they get over it or it just makes it worse. Abigail told me the other day that she hated me!! Just about killed me, but I knew she didn't really mean it. Don't even know where she heard that from! I remember my son telling me that and it just broke my heart and I took it more personal, but now I know they just say it in anger.

I just tell myself "this too shall pass" and then they'll be teenagers!! Let the fun begin!

 

The thing I'm dealing with right now is one of my girls really thinking she calls the shots. She demands something, I say NO, and she says, "Yes and then I'll stop saying that." As if she can backwards engineer the situation like that. No way. I have to tell her no, and if you don't ...(some awful consequence, fill in the blank). And it sometimes goes on a while.

Lots of nos.

Three is both harder and easier than two. More verbal means more attitude, but less crying I think.

 

Oh yeah, I definitely thought 3 was worse than 2 with my oldest DD. It was attitude central and she felt like she was in charge. I'm not looking forward to going through that again and with 2 of them.

 

We are 1 month into 3 and we are seeing the same things. Glad we are not the only ones! I give them warnings and tell them to stop being "sassy" or they are in timeout. I think this is just their way of testing us to see what they can get away with.

 

"I'm sure that to a point, this is a stage, but is anyone else experiencing this and how are you handling it?"

Mine are so close to turning 3 :cray: but
the signs of attitude are already coming out;

Colin will occasionally question me (like, "why do
I have to _________?" when he is asked to
do something :huh: And I just tell him it is
something he needs to do now.

(and the flip side to that is he has started to
tell me at least once a day "mama, you are
my best friend" :wub: )

And Ryan has always told me to "stop dancing" or
to "stop singing".....I tell him I am
having fun and continue on!

When it is difficult behavior (i.e. tantrums) we tend
to ignore it and it passes quicker than if we were to
continue talking to him (there is NO reasoning with
a three year old! imho)

 

Well, at least we're not alone! Thanks everyone.

I think back to the other stages we've gone through (taking diaper and clothes off every 2 seconds, whining because they couldn't verbalize what they wanted, etc...) and have to remind myself that it is most likely a stage. As a parent, I guess the nagging thought of wondering whether you're handling each stage the best way will never end. We do the best we can!

In the case that we have a major breakthrough in our household, I'll be sure to let you know!

 

For us 2 was the worst age! I love them being 3... they talk really well now... and follow my instructions and rules well.

 

Lot's of attitude here. We are working through it. Out of all four of my kids, I have found three years to be a rough age. They really want to assert more control. Natalie's nickname is Sassy if that says anything about it.

 

QUOTE(KYsweetheart @ Feb 21 2008, 03:57 PM) [snapback]633764[/snapback]
For us 2 was the worst age! I love them being 3... they talk really well now... and follow my instructions and rules well.


I like Jamies post most! I am going to ignore all of the other ones for this thread! I cant except that 2's and 3's are going to be tough when I am going through 18 month toughness! I need to see a light so if I only see Jamies post, I can handle that!! :laughing:

 

QUOTE
I like Jamies post most! I am going to ignore all of the other ones for this thread! I cant except that 2's and 3's are going to be tough when I am going through 18 month toughness! I need to see a light so if I only see Jamies post, I can handle that!!


Tee Hee!!

I was a little nervous reading the other posts... thinking oh gosh, its gonna change soon!! NO!!

 

My three year old girls are SASSY!!!! I hear it's the age and 4 will be better!!!! Hang in there~~

 

I am so glad to read this thread. I thought something was wrong with my daughters, but seems they are normal. They are not 3 yet, but certainly on their way. Grace says "No" with attitude to everything we say. Elizabeth just smiles, ignore what we say and does what she wants anyway. It is so frustrating! I am finding this stage to be very challenging.

 

OH great My kids already have big attitudes and they arent even 2 yet and it gets WORSE!!! My day is ruined now :nea: