Does it ever get better?

DD just had a huge tantrum that lasted for about a half hour bc I wouldn't give her popcorn for breakfast. I am getting so tired of the constant tantrums allll day long. I feel like I can't even enjoy her anymore and actually dread the weekends. She is 3.5 and this just started over the summer. It is just really getting me down and stressing me. I tried time outs, that magic 123 book, everything.

Does it ever get better?

Maybe when they go to college... Seriously though.. I feel like there's always a tantrum happening in my house. Hang in there

Does it ever get better?

It does get better. It does. When? Depends on the kid. But there is a light

Does it ever get better?

It does get better but just know that each kid is different. Mine started much earlier. He would have hour long ones at 2. He is much better now at almost 4 but he had on last night over ice.

I also learned to pick my battles. I let him have cookies for dinner once cause the fight just wasn't worth it.

Re: Does it ever get better?

The frequency gets less as they get older. My oldest dd is 5 and sometimes we can go a month without a major meltdown other times she may has 1 or 2 a week. My youngest is 3 and the battles are daily. She goes from 0 to 100 in a few minutes over the smallest things. She is very predictable most times so I try to avoid triggers and try to think ahead of her. Her major issue right now is having her hair brushed and getting dressed. I dread it every day. I sometimes have to walk outside or lock myself in the bathroom for a few minutes because I can't take the whinning and screaming.

Re: Does it ever get better?

I was in the same boat as you, and yes, it gets better.
Around 4 she turned a corner. At 5 she is a pleasure (for the most part! )

Re: Does it ever get better?

It gets better but then starts again when they are teenagers

Re: Does it ever get better?

lol!
DD just had a tantrum because she wanted her right foot to be her left foot.
DS used to tantrum because his butter melted on his toast and he thought it disappeared.
I simply state that they cannot have what they want. The tantrum may last an hour, but they won't get what they want & the consistency lasts forever! No is no.

Re: Does it ever get better?

Thanks everyone. Let's just say I had a rough morning. Sometimes I feel like like I'm the only one who goes through this. I ask myself so many times, "What am I doing wrong?" It's helpful to know its not just my daughter.

Re: Does it ever get better?

Re: Does it ever get better?

Yes, mine just turned 3 and 4. My 3 year old used to have terrible tantrums out of frustration, but he is much better now. Of course he still has them, but according to my ped, he is acting like a normal kid! Good luck!

Does it ever get better?

my dd is almost 9 and is in tears usually everyday - I attribute it to the hormones though

Re: Does it ever get better?

Mine are 6.5 and 4.5 and the tantrums DID happen, but they were few and far between. - Honestly, the only think that worked for me was to completely ignore them - not speak to them, literally step over them where ever they threw themselves on the floor .........

My issue is that everyone is completely heaing impaired in my house unless I'm screaming like a rabid, caged, wild animal .........
So, basically I'M the one throwing the tantrums in my house

Re: Does it ever get better?

Posted by MarisaK



My issue is that everyone is completely heaing impaired in my house unless I'm screaming like a rabid, caged, wild animal .........
So, basically I'M the one throwing the tantrums in my house

Re: Does it ever get better?

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by MarisaK



My issue is that everyone is completely heaing impaired in my house unless I'm screaming like a rabid, caged, wild animal .........
So, basically I'M the one throwing the tantrums in my house

This made me
Rabid, caged wild animal. LOL

Does it ever get better?

This is so funny to me bc my dd had a tantrum this morning because she also wanted popcorn for breakfast as well. When she tantrums I tell her to go lay down in her bed until she calms down and she is free to get up when she stops crying and uses her words. If she won't go to her bed I pick her up and put her there. So far that works although she'll scream in her bed sometimes. Eventually she'll cry "I need you" and then she gets hugs.

Re: Does it ever get better?

Posted by MarisaK


My issue is that everyone is completely heaing impaired in my house unless I'm screaming like a rabid, caged, wild animal .........
So, basically I'M the one throwing the tantrums in my house

Re: Does it ever get better?

Ha! I ask my friends with older kids and the answer is always the same and is basically never.

I know each age has it's challenges, but DD has been difficult since before one and we are knee deep into terrible twos. I swear I am a lunatic on a daily basis and most of the words that come out of my mouth are stop and no.

Does it ever get better?

I wish I knew! At 3 and 4.5, the tantrums are still in full force. My three year old threw a HUGE tantrum in the car yesterday because he couldn't find his captain Jake toy. He was strapped in his car seat screaming, kicking, crying, flailing his arms. I had to go back in the house and search for this darn toy so we could leave and I didn't have a 45 minute screaming car ride. My 4.5 year old DS will tantrum over everything. He doesn't like the way his sister is looking at him, he doesn't want to wear a certain pair of underwear, instead of picking a new pair himself he throws a fit. He just throws a fit over everything. With my 4.5 year old DD it's the whining that gets to me. It's like nails on a chalk board to me, I just can't. When we are home, they get sent to their room. Usually I have to physically pick them up and put them there, and they can't come back downstairs until they have calmed down. I found this thing on Pinterest I keep meaning to try. When fits are happening you have a bottle filled with water, glitter and glue and when they are throwing a fit you shake the bottle up, sit them down and they supposedly sit there and watch the glitter settle. Once it's done they are calm and they can get out of the calm down spot. I've been meaning to try this for over a year now.......

Does it ever get better?

It gets better - they still happen but, not as frequently.

Re: Does it ever get better?

It gets better as they get older and more reasonable.

Also, you'll get better at anticipating what will cause a tantrum. Like, if this popcorn thing happens again, you'll approach it differently (maybe, "how about instead, we have some popcorn and watch a little tv tonight after dinner... if you eat your yogurt for breakfast.")