Really struggling this summer with ds1.
He finished pre-school at the end of term, then just became double dose of grouchy, naughty, wingy, irritable and generally difficult. First we put it down to being tired from the end of term, then we put it down to the heat, then the loss of routine from preschool, and being with his brother ds2 (who is 2) all day everyday (they are still going to the childminders all day as me and DH are working), then we put it down to the rain and having to be indoors more, but it’s the beginning of week 5 In the holidays now and to say we are fed up is an understatement. I’m so tired of always being cross and everything being such a battle with him these past few weeks. Childminder has also been having a really tough time with him - and he is usually good as good with her!
Yesterday he was starting right from journey home from childminders, had a melt down because he wanted to get out of the car first, refusing to sit at the table, hitting out at Ds2 if he came anywhere near him, refused to eat anything until I gave him cheese spread toast. We thought maybe he is tired, so tried to put him to bed early with stories and cuddles to give him some one to one attention as I thought maybe that was the problem, he was then crying and screaming because he was going to bed before ds2. Even after we had put ds2 to bed he was still not settling until after 10 because he had got himself in such a state, we had to take turns to lie with him, and what’s worse is he kept Ds2 up so now I have 2 grouchy boys this morning. This morning he has already been the same - we started off with a clean slate, tried to be cheerful and positive, but it wasn’t even 9am before the first tantrum of the day started.
It’s like the summer holidays has given him a personality transplant!
Another recent thing is that we are having quite a few toilet accidents - which really isn’t like him, he has been very reliably dry in the day for over a year. We are not getting cross about them, but he is becoming really distressed by it.
I don’t know if maybe he is having anxiety or nerves about starting school in a few weeks? We have been talking about it - he has been really excited about big school for a while now, and he still mentions it - like ‘how many days’, ‘when I go big school I will have (insert whatever) ’... ... etc etc but I am wondering maybe the waiting period is triggering some nerves about it all?
We are going on holiday end of next week, and then I am off work for a bit to settle him into school for his first week. But honestly I am dreading the holiday with his behaviours and also dreading the whole school thing.
Please is anyone else having this with their 4 year old or is it just us 😫, anyone have any tips for me?
By the way just to put it into perspective as I am aware my post seems really negative about him. He is usually just wonderful - yes of course he has his moments of pushing it, and tantrums but he is just the sweetest, cheerful and funny boy - but I feel that I haven’t seen that little boy in 4 weeks!