I'm not sure if this is just a stage or a combination becuase of all the stuff that is going on in our lives but my 3 1/2 year olds are driving me crazy. We sold our house and moved out about 4 weeks ago, we have been living with my inlaws for the past 4 weeks and have 2 more weeks to go before we move into the new house. I know it is a lot of change for them, but they seemed to handle it really well (actually unbelievably well) until about 2 weeks ago. Then they have just been having meltdown after meltdown for no reason. My husband and I both work full time and according to my inlaws and the sitters they are about 80% better (in their words) when we are not home (makes me feel like crap). They scream and cry for no reason have tantrums where they just throw themselves on the floor. I have always used time outs and they use to work until now. Now it seems like they are constantly in time outs and then they get out and just repeat the same behavior. I know me and my husband are more streesed with everything that is going on and that is not helping but we do spend a lot of time with them when we are not working and are giving them plenty of attention. This seems a lot like what they went through right around when they turned 2 (which IMO was the worst stage for me). I am at a loss of what else to do since the Time outs are not working.

JILL MOM TO
KOURTNEY 3 LBS 1 OZ
KEEGAN 2 LBS 1 OZ
KARVER 1 LB 10 OZ
10/4/08 @ 29 weeks

They are 3 and a half and are going through a major transition in their life. Enough said. Three year olds are HARD! You have been lucky to have 3 be better than 2 so far. 3 is worse for most people. I think you are experiencing something similar to what kids and parents deal with in school. Kids have to be good in school. They spend hours sort of supressed and when they get home they go crazy. Your kids are being good for your inlaws and sitters but when you get home they are letting all the stress out because they can.

They are too young to articulate their feelings well. Combine that with the fact that 3 year olds are moody, evil creatures much of the time anyway and you've got a mess. I think you are just going to have to deal with this behavior as best you can until you get settled in your new house and then have a big behavior crack down. Good luck.

http://yesidohavemyhandsfull.blogspot.com/

"moody evil creatures" sums it up pretty well sometimes! Mine are also 3 1/2 & at the moment things are going rather smoothly. But, that changes so often for no apparent reason, I just have given up trying to figure them out. The only advice I can give is to change things up and do something different. Play a game or something new after work might help as I am sure it's a stressful living situation right now. Good luck!

Lisa
GGB born 12/26/08 @ 34 weeks
4 lb 14 oz
4 lb 12 oz
4 lb 5 oz

My singleton is 3.5 (my trips are 9 months) and this is completely normal 3 and a half year old behavior! So frustrating, but know that it's not a function of them being triplets, of anything wrong with them or anything you are doing. We're dealing with this on a daily basis with my daughter, and it's killing me. I can only imagine what it will be like when my boys are 3.5...

Hang in there! I know that's not great advice, but hopefully it makes it better to know that it's a phase and not something you're specifically doing. The moving doesn't help, of course, but I wouldn't say it's the cause of the behavior...it's just another thing that is going on in their lives that they have to process.

As they grow they will be able to express themselves and their feelings a lot better, and they will also be able to comprehend things better and learn from the timeouts and teachings/consequences and the repeat behavior should decrease. At least that is what I'm hoping for

Brooke
Mom to:
Avery 1/17/09
Asa 5 lb 3 oz
Oliver 5 lb 4 oz
Connor 5 lb 5 oz
9/2/11 (37 weeks)

My only suggestion (that does not include drugs -- for them and for you...LOL!), is to find a couple minutes every day to tell each one (separetely without the others being able to hear), that he/she is your most favorite Keegan/Kourtney or Karver in the entire world. Do NOT mention any of the siblings whatsoever at this time.

Sometimes just hearing that from you helps tremendously. Everyone sees them as triplet, treats them like triplets, talks to them as triplets -- but it is not the same to them as individuals. "Mom loves all three of us." is only a fraction of the worth of "Mom loves me!"

Good luck!

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
The 14 year olds!

We are in the same boat..I dont know how we will make it through this stage. They get in trouble every week at daycare and we try love and logic, they always have logically consequences for misbehavior usually they have to go to their room or they miss going outside (which they love) and we also spank. They can turn on a dime and things go down hill fast with fightting, hitting, throwing and one even still bites sometimes. We also moved 2 weeks ago to a new house and they all got their own rooms, which is really nice and they seem to love it at the new place. Mine are always sick as well, asthma on antibodics for strep and my daugher is on Premerin cream for a labial adhension so couple bad behavior with steriods and estrogen and it is a perfect storm at our house every day. I hope 4 is better........

Joy

GBB Triplets born 9-24-08(31 weeks)

Kellynn Grace 3lbs 3oz
Holden Coy 3lbs 2oz
Cayden Thomas 3lbs 8oz

http://hilltriplets.shutterfly.com/

Hiya! I just wanted to tell you that you aren't alone. My oldest is a singleton and she is almost 4. Just recently been having problems with her behavior. I think primarily it is the age. For yours it could be the realization that they are triplets and that they don't get enough of your time. What I would suggest is thinking real hard at what they would want more than anything. For example, is it that they want to go out with just you and daddy to get ice cream. Do you think that they are starting to compete for your attention. This is what is going on right now with my DD and we are trying to get her out as much as possible. I am in the works of putting together a rewards chart. The three top things that we want to focus on are being truthful, brotherly love, and obedience. TV in our house is also a treat and depends if my DD has been "good" throughout the day then at around 6 pm right before dinner she can watch some tv. Only based on her conduct throughout the day is she able to see TV. I am still trying to figure out what the rewards would be but, I think if she is good throughout the day she gets to watch TV which she loves. One week of good behavior, a movie in a addition to watching TV, 2weeks of good behavior, maybe a trip to Coldstone, 3 weeks of good behavior a day with just hubby and I wherever they want. I have to say we are still trying to figure this out since some of the rewards are things we want to do with her anyways because she really needs to get out.

Good Luck to you!

God bless!
Linda

3 1/2 was the HARDEST by far. All of the advice given is great... Just think this too shall pass. My kids are 5 1/2 and I am having major withdrawals of their "toddler" years. I know its super hard, but try to enjoy them as much as possible. It goes by so fast.


Hugs

GBB 01/13/07

I am right there with you. I also work but part-time (30 hours a week) my husband works crazy hours and travels, so I get to deal with the kids by myself most of the time. Mine are 3 and 3/4 now. They have been transitioning to going to pre-school monday through Friday after we had the same nanny for nearly 3.5 years. This morning as I was getting them ready, I had to go into the other room and scream and curse (they still probably heard me) because they were driving me insane, constant whining,demanding and talking back. I keep thinking it will get better, but holy crap if it doesn't happen soon, I think I will end up in the nut house. Time outs do work, but when I have to be in Court at 9 and I to get them out the door, sometimes there simply isn't time for consistency.

Juliana Lynn, Evangelina Noelle, and Vivienne Claire, born December 29, 2008



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