DS(6) has been displaying some challenging behaviour over the past 2 months or so and I’m at my wit’s end. Yesterday I absolutely lost it with him and screamed at him. I have apologised but I keep crying and feel I’m on my knees.
DS found both lockdowns exceptionally hard as an only child but together with help from a family worker at school we have helped him a lot. He’s regressing again though and I’m at a loss - he physically attacks me when told ‘no’ to buying him a toy in a shop. I have been kicked, punched in the stomach, breasts, and arms, and spat on. He also screams. I have had to physically bundle him out of shops on so many occasions and then he screams that I’m hurting his arm or hand.
If he doesn’t get his own way with different things or he’s not happy about something he starts screaming, says he hates me and never wants to see me again. Sometimes the screams are absolutely blood-curdling and his latest was in a restaurant when he decided his portion size of chicken satay was not enough so he started this horrific screaming. He was removed from the restaurant until he calmed down.
He seems to have lost all ability to speak nicely, is frequently rude, and has been told off by DH and I’s family and friends, other children even, and three times by shop staff. Yesterday I told him 5 times to put down an item on display at the checkout and the shop assistant said “listen to your mother. Do you not understand the word no?” (We know him).
I’m so ashamed, embarrassed and angry with him. I’ve tried talking to him countless times about this behaviour, more appropriate responses, and if anything is worrying him, does he feel upset/nervous etc but he says no.
I’ve told DH we are not taking him shopping or to restaurants anymore as his behaviour is just diabolical and the stares from people make me want to have the floor swallow me up.