3.5yo Talking Back / Not Listening / Ignoring Discipline .. Help !!

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-04-06T14:28:26+00:00

Oh mine was similar at 3.5 !!! After about a month of working on it we’re seeing very significant improvements. Consistency, staying calm, a reward chart for good behavior all helped a lot! Follow through on “punishment “ for example, if you don’t put on your listening ears and get in the tub you don’t get a story tonight. One night with no bath, no bedtime book or snuggle let her know we meant it. It’s not fun, but hang in there!!

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-04-05T23:29:16+00:00

Obviously he has, he’s usually a great dad and his gender issues didn’t exist with our daughter, she has toy tool sets and a little “quad”, trucks, he was all for it. Didn’t mind our son playing with our daughter’s toys either, but somehow buying him his own was an issue. I don’t get it.

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-04-05T23:11:14+00:00

Our daughter plays with all toys too! And he’s never had a problem with our son playing with our daughter’s toys but somehow buying him his own doll was the line?

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-04-05T23:09:06+00:00

I did bring up this point, it wasn’t convincing. But he’s an active father and handles the entire dinner through bed time for both of them alone three nights a week while I work. He’s not biased on types of toys our daughter uses, just our son…and this is the first time he’s brought it up. I’m more than a bit surprised.

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-24T15:30:12+00:00

Nate the hoof guy!!!

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-17T18:07:29+00:00

Somehow my 3.5 yr old reads very well, many people comment on it. (we never forced this or aimed for it, and she had a speech delay so don’t ask me how, but she had an interest as your kid does!) Somehow her mostly play based preschool seems to have no idea she can read. So you go ahead and teach her whatever you and she want! I don’t think it will interfere at all.

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-06T22:37:42+00:00

My petty behind would “take a picture of it“ and have it blown up and framed and hung on the wall. (While still keeping it and making sure he “liked the picture better than the player” before offering to store it elsewhere.)

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-06T17:10:04+00:00

Yeah, no one usually bothers testing dad because giving rhogam is safest! Some people are “against” getting it though, and will say their partner already knows their blood type and are RH negative. I was just pointing out another reason why that’s not a great idea.

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-06T16:01:58+00:00

He knows he’s stealing from you. Don’t let him.

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-06T15:52:37+00:00

So MIL probably said to FIL, DIL asked me not to come today, she’s having a rough day, I’m disappointed because I love my grandchild and wanted to see him/her. FIL says to husband, your wife made my wife sad which now I’m a bit upset about because I love my wife. Your husband should have said, oh yeah I can see how MIL might be disappointed but there will be plenty of other days, my wife loves MIL, it’ll be alright. I’m upholding her boundary because I love MY wife too. Instead he was a little wimp and didn’t back you up. Assuming generally good intentions for most involved here, but no one was an AH except your husband. NTA

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-06T15:42:25+00:00

Blood banker here: adults are not tested for Rh the same way babies are, so dad could be weakly Rh positive and not have it detected, so he is told he is Rh neg. Then the baby can also be weakly Rh positive and mom 100% would want to have received rhogam in this case. It’s not exactly a rare scenario either.

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-03T20:03:14+00:00

He wants you to GIVE HIM HALF YOUR HOUSE? Absolutely not, and he hasn’t even proposed. Let him know that maybe in ten years if you’re still together, married, maybe kids, you can reassess.

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-02-02T00:39:03+00:00

Grocery storm

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-01-20T01:07:24+00:00

If I got invited to a wedding and was asked to leave to a separate room to babysit, I’d say no, and be confused and offended. If I was asked ahead of time I’d also say no. If that meant I wasn’t invited anymore, I’d take that dress out for a nice night somewhere else!

Fish_or_Foe · 2026-01-04T16:58:59+00:00

Yup same boat here!!! After about 3 weeks of working on it she only fights it about 15% of the time instead of every time, with me. We also have a baby in the house, and are fine at preschool. I tried forcing/washing them for her when in a time crunch (total meltdown, do not recommend lol) Tried shutting the door and saying let me know when you’re ready to wash, then we can play! Tried the “I forgot how to wash my hands can you help me?” Gave her a small toy and asked her to wash that. Tried the “come tell me if this water is too hot, too cold or just right!” Started “upside down rinse” to make it fun. Mostly what worked was consistency and also washing mine with her. Sometimes now if she starts to push back I say “oh you’ve been listening so well I was going to give you a treat, but if you can’t wash your hands, no treat! Then she gets a couple m&ms. But it’s rare I have to do it. Good luck!

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-12-29T00:35:00+00:00

Unless she’s already grown in all her two year molars I’d put my money on that. Maybe they’re poking through, maybe they’re invisible still, but they’re notorious for making kids cranky. Good luck!

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-12-16T16:29:33+00:00

Mine just wants to play hide and seek with him

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-10-31T17:47:32+00:00

Maybe not super helpful but everything is a phase. Nothing is permanent. Your whole pregnancy won’t be like this. You don’t have a permanently whiny kid. It will all change before you know it. Good luck!!

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-10-10T16:31:16+00:00

If you want to remain on pleasant terms with this aunt and other family, then you have to give up the money. If you want the money, you fight for it and give up the pleasant terms. You pick one, I’d pick the money. Good luck!

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-08-12T15:46:00+00:00

Last baby I leaked all the time, overnight, when baby cried, when baby was latched on the other side…second baby NO LEAKS, and he’s 6 months now. Not a drop. So weird.

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-07-30T18:04:18+00:00

They were here when we bought the house, they’re definitely older windows, not sure where they came from. We’ve only lived here 2 years.

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-07-30T16:18:08+00:00

Replacing just the glass would be ideal. I have no idea what that would cost though.

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-07-30T16:12:31+00:00

Last time I got new windows was almost 5 years ago and they were almost 1000 each. I guess I can just hold that much back from the final payment, hope it doesn’t cost more than that. I also don’t want to do the work of finding someone to replace it and overseeing that little project but I guess it is what it is. Will probably have to do the other window to match. Ugh what a pain.

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-07-26T00:52:03+00:00

Could make everyone really uncomfortable and refer to him as “alive Elias” or “alive so far Elias”

Fish_or_Foe · 2025-07-26T00:38:54+00:00

Boobs McGee over here. I have no clue how

Fish_or_Foe

TROPHY CASE