DD is 5 and a half and has just gone back to school, year 1, and is having meltdowns a couple of times a week. They are triggered by something fairly minor (today it was because she dropped a lolly in the road and i wouldn't let her pick it up) and almost instantly escalate into an hour or more of shouting, crying, screaming, punching, kicking, biting, and hair pulling.
At the same time she often throws in that she wishes she was dead /someone would kill her / she could live on her own.
Today I carried her home because she kept running off towards the road every time I let go of her arm or hand. I started off carrying her sideways in a sort of underarm fireman's lift, but funnily enough once i was carrying her properly (front to front) she relaxed into me and just cried all the way home.
Her first mum (birth mum) died when she was 9months old. Her dad and I have been together since just before she was 2, though she has known me since birth.
I have posted elsewhere re the 'wish i was dead' thing bcs thought maybe its just a phase loads of kids go through. And I know back to school is a hard time, she's definately a bit worn out. But I was wondering could it be anything more, to do with the stage she's at in development. Any thoughts? I'm feeling a bit traumatised by the intensity of her rage and angst.