Yeah, it's funny. Sometimes my son, 4, he'll talk to me, but his speech and communication are still in the very basics, and I'll say, Buddy, I'm sorry, I don't know what you're saying, and he'll get frustrated, which leads to anger, all because I don't understand what he's saying.

Turn the tables, I'm like, Dude, go to the bathroom, we're getting in the car, you go to the bathroom before we drive, and he'll say NO! And now I'm the one who's frustrated and angry because he's now the one who's not understanding what I'm saying.

As always, communication is key, and breakdowns always cause problems. And so we're all just along for the ride.

Yeah, no. They're assholes. Little ones, but still assholes.

So true. I have two and they’re complete opposites. Every single thing that one is easy about the other is hard. I thought that the second would be easier because I learned some things from the first, but every lesson was useless.

To respond to your firat paragraph: This episode of Bluey helped me understand as a first time parent. Though this is less about personality and more about development. The mom with 9 or whatever kids really puts things into perspective.

It's funny because my own kid is literally Bluey. Super quick to do everything else, refuses to walk.

Your second and third paragraph: thank you for the advice, I'm anticipating that mine will become a terrorist. Already has learned to cry when told no, despite the fact that we've never caved in to it.

I know this sounds very "duh" but I had an epiphany when I realized that the reason I hated advice and tips for parenting was that I didn't see my kid as a child, I saw her as a person. And just like I would be offended if my partner took some rando's advice on "women" to deal with me, I get subconsciously defensive when my daughter is treated like a kid that comes with a handbook. There are 5 ticks for this behavior in this age and one of them will work. Fuck that. It doesn't and it doesn't need to and it shouldn't be expected to. She's an individual, there is no manual for that.

She's turning 4 soon btw - and I love her to bits with her chaotic insanity. I feel as if it's not like she doesn't fit into a box or likes to think outside the box - she just dismantles the box, it is non-existent to her. She is actually very social, popular and follows rules well in kindergarten. Despite her answer to that theory of mind question about where the doll is being "there's multiple dolls" which spins into a Lynchian tale about parallel dolls

Yep. My Wife and I raised 4 Daughters. Each one was their own type of terror and mayhem and need to be handled differently. No toddler needs to have a choice in anything. Their minds aren't ready for that. But by the time they hit 4 or 5, they can handle limited choices pretty well. And they only get better after that.

And I'm always picking what he's least likely to want.

So parents can be assholes too.

I had to do a variant of this with my now wife. She never wanted to pick restaurants, so I'd suggest something i was okay with but knew she hated. She got a lot more willing to give her opinions after a few years. Now we can discuss it like equals instead of me making the decision all the time.

I'm optimistic! My parents weren't perfect, but I absolutely appreciate everything they did now, and have told them so.

They are not supposed to scream during the process, it actually signals the end of it.

I'm not shoplifting this child.

Don't forget leverage. Shorter limbs get more "strength" from their muscles.

You're right on with pets, had a lil' doggo that did NOT want his medicine, lil' pooch would eat around it in his food, squirm in six dimensions if you tried to force him, and yes one time he even used teeth!
Needless to say I was, in fact, not using teeth.

Our current doggo tho, eats her food with or without medicine. One time we forgot to give her her pill when she was on medication for something, I just told her it was a biscuit and she ate it, no questions asked. This is a blessing.

Starting all over with child proofing and sleepless nights after 11 years... wow. Seriously, respect for pulling it off.

won't improve

Nothing wrong with current birth rates, just the reasons for them.

I think you meant

won't increase

When I was a kid we used to just get thrown outside along with all the other kids and told not to come back until lunch time.

We used to get up to all sorts no one cared. At one point someone's dad took us all to the beach which was about an hour away, we all just got in this strangers car (never met him before) and went to the beach. I don't remember my parents been even remotely bothered by that when they found out.

Yeah, the other kind tends to shut itself up pretty quick.

As many as I can. Thankfully, I don't live near a school (I'm American).

Nah, that's a fools bet lol.

I've had two, go fish.

That's the best you can do. Upset is normal. Throwing things is normal.

Kicking, punching and violence to the point where you have to make excuses that you're not kidnapping isn't.