There may be no scientific evidence to support our claim, but we are here to say that the terrible 2’s have nothing on the 3’s.

• It’s a tough reality to face, but 3 years are a little wiser and don’t fall for the same tricks that worked months earlier. They are curious little creatures and manage to discover the hidden veggies on their plates. Suddenly, they can no longer play quietly or be trusted not to run a truck over their sister’s head.
• Three years have a new-found sense of independence, and it now takes forever to do anything or go anywhere. Forget zipping their jacket or carrying their bag, it’s an unwritten rule that they must do everything for themselves.
• If you thought messes were bad at 2, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Unbenounced to us it takes approximately 3 minutes for a toddler to turn their fairly neat room into a disaster zone. That box of blocks that was stacked in the corner… it’s now all over the middle of the floor. Those books that lined the shelves… they don’t anymore. Three-year olds are walking, talking tornadoes.
• Living with a 3-year-old is like living in a real-life soap opera. They have strong opinions on everything and can cry on command. What were you thinking when you picked out the stripes and not polka dots? Who knew all you had to do to send him over the edge was hand him apple juice in a green cup?
• Naps are no longer the cool thing, but man, are they a necessity now more than ever. Somehow, they can literally be falling asleep, yet still adamantly refuse sleep. You know the situation is bleak when even older siblings tell them they need a nap.
• By age 3, they have a better understanding of right from wrong, but they’ve also learned to make their actions deliberate. At this point they know how to use their words, they just choose not to. Instead they morph into a crazy person and act out in public.
• They reserve their full meltdowns for the center of the grocery store. Epic doesn’t even begin to describe the temper tantrums. These are so bad that you begin to wonder if they are possessed. You also begin to wonder if saying, “wait until I tell your mom” will convince people that you are the nanny instead.
• The questions and talking seem to never end. It was cute when they talked at 2, by age 3 you are constantly looking for the off switch.
• Meals come with an entirely different set of issues. Macaroni and cheese has always been your favorite food… until today. Oh you’ve decided at 3 you are a vegetarian and will only eat gold fish and veggie straws, I see.
• Just a few months earlier, you were able to pick out their clothes. All those coordinating outfits with bows, now getting dressed has become a WWE battle. Forget matching, know you are lucky if you can leave the house with them in anything besides a princess costume and rainboots.
• One of the harshest realities of raising a 3 year is coming to terms with the fact that they own you. In their short years on year they have learned the art of manipulation, and they use it like a champ.