# Ways your kids are currently driving you crazy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 13, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005 "2012-06-13T11:47:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/81 "2012-06-25T23:13:33Z")
> [@Lissla\_Lissar](#): > > This morning toddler wanted five different types of cereal in a bowl What’s wrong with that, when I’m at a Hampton Inn I love to eat a bowl of Cheery Raisin Charms! ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/82 "2012-06-26T03:33:08Z")
We have a case of the “I forgots”. Why are you only wearing one sock? I forgot. Why is the milk on the counter next to a bowl of dry cereal? I forgot. What happened to your pants?!? I forgot. And my favorite, at 5:00 am, what is that noise coming from the bathroom? I forgot to lift the toilet lid. ::sigh:: I’d get mad at them but they would forget why and it would do no good. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/83 "2012-06-26T11:15:52Z")
I wish the babies would sleep at night, and not need snacks every forty minutes. Heh. A lot of the time if we ask Gnat why he did something dumb, he’ll get this puzzled and thoughtful look and say, “Welllllll, I think I lost all my ideas.” Great, kid. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/84 "2012-06-26T15:09:00Z")
> [@the\_Lady](#): > > The boy (almost three) no longer sleeps though the night. > He’s up anywhere from once to six times. > Comes rocketing into the room, and is up and into the bed far faster that you would think he could move. You have to let him lay for about 30 seconds, then take him back. > When you ask WHY - all he says is “I got up!” > Sigh. > He can also defeat any child lock placed on the door in approximately 30 seconds. > We could swap the lock from our bedroom door and just install it backwards, but then he would pound on the door and wail - waking up the other child. > I really hope he grows out of this, and fast. > > . . . Please be careful what you wish for! Imagine what my friend went through, when hers starting waking in the night and wandering about the house wreaking havoc. OMG the destruction, there was a new update on Facebook almsot every day. The fridge raided and _left open_, an entire box of crayons apparently eaten, her expensive art supplies used to decorate the walls of the front hall (he got the idea from the painters who had just done them the week before!) As painful as it is, you really, really want him to come straight to you when he wakes up! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/85 "2012-06-26T15:31:38Z")
TruCelt (dawdler kid) and Caffeine\_addict (impatient kid) really need to trade kids for a week! ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/86 "2012-06-26T15:32:55Z")
Lil’ Neville wouldn’t cooperate for the non-stress test _again_ today. Next week I’ll be going in later in the day, maybe that will help. ETA: If she’s just not a morning person, she comes by it honestly. Neither her father nor I are morning people. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/87 "2012-06-26T15:35:02Z")
> [@Lissla\_Lissar](#): > > Three is a brutal year. We nearly killed Gnat when he was three. I have a very long, very funny thread about it which I can’t search for right now because the boys are shouting behind me, but it’s called something like “Are all three year olds psycho or are we just lucky?”. > > Why can’t they share the watermelon? There’s a whole watermelon! I think all three year old boys must be psycho. I’m constantly astonished my son made it to 6. The behavior was worst between 3.5 and 4.5 years old. I always thought that it had to do with us having a baby when he was 3.5, but when I talked to his pediatrician about it once (I was almost in tears on the phone), she said, “You know what? He’d probably act like this anyway. Everyone talks about the terrible twos, but it’s the threes you’ve gotta watch out for.” He calmed down for a while, then he started kindergarten at age 5. Ugh…little boys in kindergarten. It was like the terrible 3s all over again, only less physical but more mouthy. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/88 "2012-06-26T15:46:34Z")
My sister swears that the odd number ages are hell, the even number ages are… less than hell. My kids been pretty good since Day 1, so I’m assuming a teenagehood of Epic, Ranty Proportions. Keep tuned. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/89 "2012-06-26T15:56:38Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > Everyone talks about the terrible twos, but it’s the threes you’ve gotta watch out for." I know, just when you think you’ve made it past the “tough” part, everyone gets to telling you how the next age is even worse. I can’t wait for the easy time. I think that’ll be when I’m retired in Boca Raton and he lives in Seattle. Excuse, I have to go negotiate the removal of a bucket from his head. Apparently it’s stuck on with glue. Pretend glue, thankfully. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/90 "2012-06-26T16:12:05Z")
There are pictures of me with my daughter (now 10) and my goatee and sideburns are dark and luxurious. Now looking at pictures of me and my kids, the beard and sideburns are getting grayer and grayer. It all started about 4 years ago when my son turned 1. I don’t know what the Boy did to cause this to happen to me. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/91 "2012-06-26T17:45:28Z")
Glad this thread came back, because I am wondering if anyone else can give advice on how to deal with this one. My kid (3 and a half for those of you who don’t feel like scrolling back) has a hard time with giving up on things that are somewhat hard for her, or wanting me to do everything for her when I know she’s perfectly capable of doing it on her own. I have to coax her to take her own shirt off–she keeps saying “I don’t know how!” but when I show her how, she gives up at the hard part. If she’s lying down on the couch and wants her blanket but it fell on the floor, she whines at me to come get it for her. I never do, unless I’m already up and over there. I make sure to praise her for her efforts when she actually does do something hard and does it remotely correctly, and I try to work her through problem-solving while still allowing her to do the actual work herself once she figures it out. Is this something that kids this age generally do, or should I be worried that she’s not much of a self-starter? ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/92 "2012-06-26T17:54:21Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Glad this thread came back, because I am wondering if anyone else can give advice on how to deal with this one. > > My kid (3 and a half for those of you who don’t feel like scrolling back) has a hard time with giving up on things that are somewhat hard for her, or wanting me to do everything for her when I know she’s perfectly capable of doing it on her own. I have to coax her to take her own shirt off–she keeps saying “I don’t know how!” but when I show her how, she gives up at the hard part. If she’s lying down on the couch and wants her blanket but it fell on the floor, she whines at me to come get it for her. I never do, unless I’m already up and over there. I make sure to praise her for her efforts when she actually does do something hard and does it remotely correctly, and I try to work her through problem-solving while still allowing her to do the actual work herself once she figures it out. Is this something that kids this age generally do, or should I be worried that she’s not much of a self-starter? In my opinion, you’re doing the right thing. If you’re looking for alternatives, you could try making it a competition - see how fast you can get the shirt off. We had the same trouble with my son over writing. He wasn’t good at it and therefore wanted nothing to do with it. With practice, he got better and much more confident, so stopped refusing to try. As far as the blanket thing goes, again, I think you’re doing the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/93 "2012-06-26T18:03:56Z")
Just what I came to say. Make it a race. “I bet I can get it first!” Or for the shirt, “It won’t come off? what if Iiiiiiiiii tickle you!!!” It’s really improtant to pay attention to our own expression and attitude. Our frustration is natural, but not helpful. Likewise it’s normal to scowl when we concentrate, but learning should be fun, and our smiles increase their frustration tolerance immeasurably. Make sure to praise effort and persistence over achievement. And “You’re getting so independent!” over “You are so sweet!” or “You’re getting so big!” Make sure she hears you bragging to other people about the things she can do for herself. But don’t leave her feeling abandoned with every difficult task. Pick your skill for the week, and if she’s having trouble make it a month and break up the steps. We just had to do this with shoe tying, breaking it up, (You did the over and under part all by yourself! YAAAYYYYY!!!) and reverted to the two-loops method in the end. First solo shoe tie this morning! Yay! Also, it’s OK to baby her occasionally. “You lost your blankie? Do you need a wrapped-up hug?” Then swaddle and cuddle. Cuddle time is never wasted. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/94 "2012-06-26T18:42:09Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Also, it’s OK to baby her occasionally. “You lost your blankie? Do you need a wrapped-up hug?” Then swaddle and cuddle. Cuddle time is never wasted. Amen to cuddle time. I joke around that my daughter wallows in me, but I’m going to miss it so much! Since she was mobile, she’s pushed me onto my back, yanked my shirt up to expose my tummy, then pulled her shirt up and rubbed our bare stomachs together. Then she lays back, pulls her pant legs up and does it with her legs, front and back. Then she rubs her fat little arms all over my neck and chest, then pushes her face into my stomach or neck. It sounds extraordinarily weird (and it sometimes makes me feel fat when she kneads my gut with her feet), but it’s so sweet and I don’t want it to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/95 "2012-06-26T19:15:13Z")
> [@ShelliBean](#): > > Oh god - the one I spoke of before that wants to talk all the live long day - he does that. Sometimes I swear that if I hear the phrase “well actually…” just one more time I may snap. Well, actually… do we share the same daughter? My nearly-7 year old is the sweetest, nicest, easiest kid I could have asked for (I am brazing myself for the teen years), but dear Og, she has a tireless tongue. She needs to ask the reason, definition and context of everything; but the most annoying thing is that she seems to know the answer and just wants to catch us in error. I am glad that she is curious and very smart, but would it hurt her to just keep it to herself once in a while? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/96 "2012-06-26T19:33:51Z")
Exactly. What is it with kids and their auto-lawyer? “You said I couldn’t have _cake_ before bed. This is ice cream!” ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/97 "2012-06-26T19:37:46Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > iPod Is this the problem or a recommended solution? 😉 Also the Literal mindedness Fiddle mentioned - At her birthday party I asked Celtling to open her cards first. “The _envelopes_, Mom, you have to open the _envelopes_!” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/98 "2012-06-26T20:37:41Z")
My 21 year old daughter called me up crying a few hours ago because she doesn’t think she can afford her tuition payment in a couple of weeks. I tried to soothe her, but she was in such a nasty mood, I told her I’d just talk to her later. In the meantime, I looked up her actual payment and what her financial aid is likely to be, conferred with her grandmother, and came up with a possible plan. When I called my darling daughter back, she was annoyed that I wanted to talk so much, because she’s on her way out the door to go shopping. She _needs_ a new purse. I hope she just dumps on me because I’m her loving mom, because if she tries her attitude on regular people, she’s going to get her head knocked off. And then there’s the complete lack of financial sense… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/99 "2012-06-27T12:35:04Z")
> [@Lissla\_Lissar](#): > > Three is a brutal year. We nearly killed Gnat when he was three. I have a very long, very funny thread about it which I can’t search for right now because the boys are shouting behind me, but it’s called something like “Are all three year olds psycho or are we just lucky?”. Here, [linky](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=600745). ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005/100 "2012-06-27T12:43:21Z")
MAMA: Asa, get your shoes while you’re in there. ASA: Mmmhmmmm MAMA: Did you even hear what I said? ASA: Yes! Gah! MAMA: What did I say? ASA: You said get my shoes! Geez! You don’t have to tell me 20 times! . . . MAMA: Okay, are you ready to go? Wait, where are your shoes?? ASA: My what? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-your-kids-are-currently-driving-you-crazy/625005.md?page=6)