Eight is a very tough age. It seems like each child goes through a mean and rotten phase at that age. There's probably some threshold of mental development that's reached, and it takes a year or so to "clear up." I definitely recall that my oldest daughter (now 13) was impossible at 8 ... and you know it must have been bad if I think 13 is better :-).
My twin girls are almost 8, so please don't tell me that.