They are 4 and 2.9. DD (4) has always had a slight tendency to run too far ahead, but the behaviour has really escalated over the last couple of months. Now DS copies her, except he usually runs off in a different direction, leaving me yelling like a fishwife at them both and chasing them like a headless chicken.
They are definitely doing it on purpose to wind me up, and it works. I honestly don't know how to deal with it anymore. We live in a city and our school walk is along some busy roads...my nerves are shredded!
I've tried explaining to them ad nauseam why it's dangerous, I've tried praising them when they walk close to me / ride nicely on the buggy, and I've tried the aforementioned fishwife impressions. On two particularly bad occasions I've resorted to hand-smacking, which has made me feel like shit, and seems to have had no lasting effect (other than DS threatening to smack other people's hands ).
I don't see other parents having this problem so why the fuck am I so entrenched in this awful situation??
It's particularly bad if we're walking with other people...what does that mean? I think DD is showing off, perhaps??
Really desperate for advice.
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I am at my WITS' END with regard to my kids running away on/beside busy roads.
33 replies
MadamAnt · 03/06/2009 17:16
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