Three times the back-chat

There are many times as a parent I feel I’m banging my head against a brick wall. None more so than now.

The triplets have crashed their way into the three’s and show zero sign of improvement when It comes to doing what they are told. At least with out back-chat, snarling faces, massive tantrums and several trips to the naughty corner.

Being new to this gig, I have naturally gone into each phase of the triplets development with expectations of what may be coming. Like the ‘terrible two’s’ that were shaken at me as a warning from other dads. Like teething was before it. It was a time to dread! Well I can report they were wrong. Because so far the terrible two’s have nothing on the completely irrational three’s.

They are demanding, intolerant and have little patience with each other and all I can do is wonder if there are mistakes I’ve made that have contributed to their total lack of respect for anyone who tells them what to do. It may be normal behaviour for toddlers but it’s all new to me.

We are on the ball with discipline, and even so, they often frequent the naughty corner, screaming back because they aren’t allowed to hit their sisters with toy dinosaurs. All the while practicing calm and patience whilst being shouted at that I am being a ‘Naughty Daddy’.

To say it’s frustrating would be an understatement.

Even though we are quite strict with them it has little effect. Partly because they are toddlers, and largely because they bounce off each other. Some days it’s like losing a battle by the time they have gone to bed.

They are exhausting, fired up with energy and hormones and living their lives to the full regardless of what us, their parents want. They are like short teenager’s with less of a vocabulary to argue back with. Thankfully.

I’m told it’s just a phase. I guess I just wasn’t ready for the even more terrible three’s, where the attitude is one of ‘don’t tell me what to do’ without any fear of any consequences. And they are fearless, which one day will come I in handy for them. It’s just not that easy to deal with right now.

My book ‘From triples to triplets’ is available now on Amazon.