Are 3 year olds little dictators?

[kindacrunchy]

My son has done pretty well with having good manners but lately he is demanding, says uh-uh and uh-huh intsead of no thank you or yes, please. He doesn't respond to simple questions like "do you want a drink?", etc. The manners will come back but the bossiness is driving me nuts! He is a very articulate little guy, too.
Is this a 3 year old thing?

[dillonandmarasmom]

Originally Posted by kindacrunchy

My son has done pretty well with having good manners but lately he is demanding, says uh-uh and uh-huh intsead of no thank you or yes, please. He doesn't respond to simple questions like "do you want a drink?", etc. The manners will come back but the bossiness is driving me nuts! He is a very articulate little guy, too.
Is this a 3 year old thing?

Are you talking about MY ds???

Yeah, the lack of enthusiasm and appreciation has definitely been driving me crazy! And, the talking...non-stop questions, commentary, anything when in the car!!! Drives us out of our minds!!!!

[hipumpkins]

Oh the Uh huhs drive me batty!! BTW you have totally described my 3 1/2 year old

[june'smom]

yup, dd is our little dictator. she, too, won't answer questions, won't use her words when she is upset. She is bossy and yells and recently started to hit and kick (she never use to).

Not the most fun age so far. I am sure it will improve, she is going through lots of other changes. I am going back to work this summer, have been gone more for school, she decided to move her bed to her room (had been next to ours). All this stuff comes out in our daily life.

Louise

[Yoshua]

enjoy it while it lasts, Try not to get into a battle of wits with him. It will end in a melt down

[goosysmom]

Originally Posted by june'smom

yup, dd is our little dictator. she, too, won't answer questions, won't use her words when she is upset. She is bossy and yells and recently started to hit and kick (she never use to).


Louise

Is here name Jacqueline???? LOL....This describes the 3yo dc I care for along with her 17mo old sister....It drives me batty bc my 2yo dd is the politest little girl on earth right now.....Trying to handle the tantrums over something as simple as her sister touching the toy she was playing with or her trying to ORDER me, the grownup around, to pushing and hitting her sister....My dd just stands there in disbelief and holds her hands over her ears when the tantrum ensues....I hope this phase with her doesn't last too long and that her little sister doesn't learn too much...Luckily for me if dd trys it out on me I just look at her and say what do you think yer doing there missy and she giggles and comes running over to me....silly girl....

My sd wasn't like that at 3 but it's hit her at 6....joy of joys...

HUGS mama....

[sadie_sabot]

My 3.5 yo has become very senstive and demanding, I'm pretty sure (especially after reading y'alls posts) that it's developmental. i try to roll with it, not respond the same way I would respond if, say, my partner tried to boss me around. I've found it helpful to say, "Is there a different way you can ask me?" andshe knows what I mean and usually complies.

I also really shy away from calling her names of any sort, even when I'm not with her...I think that it caan contribute to developing a oppositional mindset toward her.

Even though she calls me "poo-poo head" whenever she is angry at me I just have to keep reminding myself..."she is 3, I am 34. I am the adult!

[june'smom]

At two, she was an angel (most of the time). She was not nearly this difficult and she never hit me.

It seems to be just part of the three year old package.
Louise

[royaloakmi]

OMG, you mean this gets worse? Mine are 2.5 years old and SOOOOO demanding/bossy, etc.

[whoamama]

My 3 yr old dd is Queen Tyrant of Tyrantland. She is a right little terror, but after 3 comes 4....It is at least consistent, not like her hormonal 14 yr old sister, who is my best buddy one minute, and a brat the next...

[Nu_Mommy_2003]

Thank God I'm not alone. I thought something was wrong with him and me so I basically kept this off the board. I was actually embarassed. He is the boss and I am have a hard time dealing. Glad to know it is a phase. Maybe I'll post now to see how other dealt with this. Thanks for posting this!

[kindacrunchy]

Originally Posted by Nu_Mommy_2003

Thank God I'm not alone. I thought something was wrong with him and me so I basically kept this off the board. I was actually embarassed. He is the boss and I am have a hard time dealing. Glad to know it is a phase. Maybe I'll post now to see how other dealt with this. Thanks for posting this!

I saw a family therapist because of it. After he started saying things to me that a lot of discipline books say (that don't really pertain to my child) I figured I could save myself $145/hr by posting. Guess what?! It seems like he is a pretty normal 3 year old and the mamas here have better ideas that actually work than the therapist did
Thanks MDC mamas!

[hipumpkins]

1 and 2 were my favorite ages!! DD was sooo sweet. People used to tell me to write a parenting book b/c I must be such a good mother. Once she turned 3 and I had a 4 mos old baby to contend with all book writing deals were off

[mamaoliviaYphineas]

Wow!

Well, dd is 2y8m and this thread has described her to a T! DH and I have really been beside ourselves lately because she has been so difficult. She can be downright mean at times (no name-calling yet) but she has been yelling at me more than DH. I do *everything* not to raise my voice at this child, so she isn't modeling me. I just am at loss. She is very advanced (I know, but she really IS.) She labels my emotions correctly 90% of the time, so she seems to be really in tune wih feelings, etc. If 3 is "worse..."

[AnnasPapa]

I swear I saw dd goosestepping the other day. She most definately thinks she is the boss.

[faithnj]

Originally Posted by AnnasPapa

I swear I saw dd goosestepping the other day. .....

ROFLOL!
I swear that must be the funniest thing I've ever read on MDC!

Otherwise,
Best wishes with your 3 year olds. I have a 16 month old, but I"ve noticed that when we are in playgroups, the 3 year olds seem to give her the most trouble. I figure it's just a phase, not anything to do with what the mother is doing. I think when DD turns 3, I'll just get myself a prescription for sedatives, and then shut the door and keep her at home until "Tyrant Time" is over.

Faith