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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if anyone else's kids behaviour has deteriorated this week?

87 replies

ilovepenguins79 · 14/12/2019 17:29

I have 2 DC age 5 and 3.

We have done the nativity plays for both and we are all getting excited for Christmas but their behaviour especially this weekend is unbelievable. I have been called ugly by my DC5, smacked in the face by my DC3, had screaming in the supermarket, bad manners "I WANT that for christmas!'.

I have started a star chart but they don't care and will go and take off a star if they are about to be naughty. Nothing distracts them, you turn your back and they are pulling our house apart. We do activities with them and 2 mins later 'I am bored!' 'I am hungry!' literally as we are washing up. I took them to the park this morning to get the ants out their pants and they were deliberately trying to run out in the road ...so they went straight home.

DH and I are at the end of our tether this evening. Any tips or reassurance that its not just ours please! Is this a pre christmas thing that I haven't noticed yet?

OP posts:
NemophilistRebel · 14/12/2019 17:32

Not just yours and min isn’t even at school age yet so hasn’t had all the influence from excited other children

It’s like there’s a Christmas air that’s making my child extra demanding, extra tantrumy and extra cheeky

ThisLittlePiggyWentTo · 14/12/2019 17:34

They're a bit overwhelmed. Try not taking stars away but rewarding for good behaviour instead. It installs more of a positive outcome. Taking away doesnt seem to bother them anyway!

InvisibleToEveryone · 14/12/2019 17:35

I work in a JMI school, the kids this last week have been loud, hyper and some quite rude!

Original poster
ilovepenguins79 · 14/12/2019 17:40

They fight all the time too.

DH and I had a minute outside the car earlier when they were in their seats both screaming at us for not letting then eat crisps. We shut the door and took the trolley back - it was bliss.

OP posts:
Original poster
ilovepenguins79 · 14/12/2019 17:40

@ThisLittlePiggyWentTo Thank you I will try that. They don't really care about the star chart though.

OP posts:
Andysbestadventure · 14/12/2019 17:41

It's the full moon!

YouveDoneItToYourself · 14/12/2019 17:42

Yes my daughter has been a complete madam! I'm letting it wash over me...

Cuddling57 · 14/12/2019 17:42

Yes and mine is 14!
Often happens this time of year.

Hauskat · 14/12/2019 17:44

My DD too. Fucking nightmare. Positive reenforcement had been working so well. But she was just awful last night. Think it was all the excitement of Christmas events at school. Much better today but still pretty hyper.

Unicornsdosparkle · 14/12/2019 17:45

Same here. It's good to know it's not just me.

Nonnymum · 14/12/2019 17:46

It's all the hype of Christmas. It can be too much for small children. Expectations are always too high and inevitably things are never as magical as everyone thinks they should be. Also normal routine is thrown out of the window and small children can find that hard. Try and be patient and to play down christmas if you can.

ultrablue · 14/12/2019 17:52

Kids always get tired towards the end of term. Now the added excitement of Christmas, change of routine etc, and I swear the windy weather sets them off too, the staff at my children's nurseries have said this over the years and I be noticed it too running a stay and play for 17 years lol.

Funny thing is my DM is in a nursing home with difficult patients and I swear their behaviour has gotten worse over the same period of time lol, definitely must be in the air x

Eminybob · 14/12/2019 17:56

Yeah, Ds1 (5) has been a pita for a couple of weeks now. His teacher says it’s lack of routine at school, normal lessons have been taken over by nativity rehearsals etc.
Ds2 (just 1) has been super wingey too but as he hasn’t a clue what is happening Xmas wise I don’t think it’s related.

KM99 · 14/12/2019 17:59

Oh yes, my 5 year old is in a cycle of complaining, over tiredness and being quite clingy to me. This term is always a tough one.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 14/12/2019 18:00

Teacher of 30 6 and 7 year olds. They are super tired and grumpy and we have four more days of tears and tales!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/12/2019 18:04

My 6 year old is very easy going and well behaved usually but he's been giving me a bit of attitude this week. He's moaned and sulked every day about what we've had for dinner, moaned about going food shopping, moaned about going to school.

He's definitely tired and ready for a break. Roll on next Friday.

timeforawine · 14/12/2019 18:10

My 3 year old has actually improved as she had a couple of weeks of being a right bloody madam! I think its partly the threat of Santa won't visit so just hoping she doesn't revert after Christmas.......
A few friends are having this with their kids too though, Christmas crazy

sunshineandshowers21 · 14/12/2019 18:16

not naughty but my five year old has been really tearful and clingy. i think he’s just overwhelmed with the excitement of christmas and all the activities going on at school. i’ll be glad when he breaks up so he can have some lie ins and chill out a bit!

Muminabun · 14/12/2019 18:26

My five year old is manic and having mood swings like the exorcist. It is the end of a really long hard term at school. The nativity stress and excitement, the weather is crap, lots of visits and excitement, the tree the decorations, talking about Santa all the time. Too much.
Currently running around upstairs screaming with excitement, can’t wait for bedtime.....😳🧟‍♂️

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 14/12/2019 18:29

Mine is 5 and in our area the October half term was WC 14th Oct, so this is the longest stretch of the year with the most excitable stuff in it.

DD is overtired, overhyped and overwhelmed.

We have a few days away booked in Jan before she goes back, cab8n in the woods with a hot tub and several days of wandering and doing very little. Cannot wait!

Jemimapuddleduk · 14/12/2019 18:38

Yup- 2 absolute little nightmare children in my house too. Alternating between being hyper, tearful, rude and diva ish. My son’s sleep has gone haywire despite his usual melatonin dose (he has ASD). Christmas go’s on far too long nowadays, it’s overwhelming and exhausting. They are both pale and have huge eye bags. Oh the joys!

passthetea · 14/12/2019 18:43

Mine are 5&3 too and have been a nightmare for a few weeks especially the 5yo Confused my advice..put the clocks forward and tell them it's bedtime, that's what I'm doing Wink

SalrycLuxx · 14/12/2019 18:47

I call it endoftermitis.

There will be a spectacular tantrum from each of mine within the next 24 hours, after which they will calm down.

Tombliwho · 14/12/2019 18:48

Yep, around this time we go into "Festive Behaviour" almost like when we turn the clocks back. They're absolute dicks until January.
Pick your battles, rudeness and violence not tolerated. Generally dickery overlooked.

debbs77 · 14/12/2019 19:05

Yep, the full moon for sure! Happens every time x