[mschweber]

Rebecca's two favorite phrases are "I can do it" and "I no want that". And yes, she is a great eye roller when you try to tell her to do something. But I agree with one of the prior posters, as long as they do not avoid eye contact during the cuddly/huggy moment (and Rebecca loves looking right into our eyes during these moments) avoiding eye contact during the mommy and daddy want you to do something moments is very normal.

To tell you the truth I try to avoid eye contact when my wife or boss (well I guess that really is the same thing) try to tell me to do something I do not want to do.

[Katie63011]

I could have written your post! Luke turned 3 last week and I have been going through the same thing. His saying is "don't tell me no Mommy" That doesn't sit very well with me! He is definitely pushing the envelope. I think the just turning 3's are much, much worse than the 2's.

[kimber413]

Yep, sounds like threes to me. Kaitlin is going through the same sort of thing. Also, when she asks her daddy something and I answer, she turns to me, points her finger, and says "Not you, Mommy!", and vice versa with DH. I'm finding the 3's are much worse than the 2's, especially since she has enough language skills to tell us what she really thinks!

[waiting4babies]

My daughter is only two years old and she is a smarty pants. She calls me "meany" when I tell her it is time for a nap or if I take something away from her. She is constantly taking her brothers toys away from him and when I take them back to give them to her brother, she runs and hits him. I give her time out and she tells me "no". I reinforce time-out and then she stays, but she is good at trying to get her way. They are way too smart.

[Jen_in_OH]

I love this post! I'm feeling like I'm in good company. My son will turn three in early March.

His favorite expression is "I do it! I do it!" He says this about everything including things that he can't do.

He'll do something rotten and announce to me, "No time out, no time out!" (not that he even knows what that is - every "time out" he has ever received involves me sitting there with him!)

He also likes to tell me to "stop it." I "love" that one. He'll even say it when he runs into things. The other day he ran into the table, looked at me, and said, "Stop it, mama!"

It's going to be a fun year if he isn't even three yet!!
Jen

[emjay]

Have to agree here with the rest of the group...the twos are just a warm up for the trying threes - all that you said and more that Alex is doing - and frustrating fours - same as three plus lots of whining and more verbal gems. Erin just turned 5, and her latest is to tell me either "you really hurt my feelings" or "you're just plain mean" after she's admonished for doing something wrong. But nine times out of ten, she's my best friend again a half hour later.

Good luck - and remember that this too shall pass.
- Maura

[angelkisses0102]

LOL!!! This is so funny...Alex grunts at us...points his little finger and tells us 'not nice mommy (or daddy) when we try to tell him no...

I agree it gets worse as they are able to 'argue' and debate...Arianna is a great debater!!

[proudmommyof 2]

I forgot Dennis' favorite admonishment at age 3............"POOPY-HEAD!!!!!""



Then, at about 3 1/2, it was "LOSER!!!!""

After getting into trouble for this many times, he would control himself more, but "LOSE...." would come out, the just the LLL sound, watching us the whole time for our reaction.

Now, he wouldn't dare say it to us anymore, but I hear him calling Tommy loser or baby-head sometimes. *sigh*

[calikismet]

Ah, the 3's. A friend of mine said that whoever coined the term "terrible twos" must not have had a 3 year old!

Our son is 3 and a half. He is generally a great kid. But yes, the things that you complain about, Vicki, I could also write about:

The eye avoidance. I get down on his level and hold his chin in my hand. He still manages to look away at some unforeseen bird or rocket ship. This is my velcro kid with NO attachment issues at all, so I know that it is just age. And really, how often do WE as a adults also avoid eye contact when we know we are in trouble?

The smart mouthing and admonsihments. My son's fave phrase is "that's not nice, mommy" or "you are being mean, mommy." These follow his time outs, or words of warnings from us. He even told me the other day that his preschool teacher Ms. May would be mad at me; I asked him why, and he said b/c I was not playing nicely with him (I had gotten after him for not picking up his toys before dinner). I laughed secretly.

So yes, it is normal. Not necessarily fun, but normal.