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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:
ColleysMill · 15/12/2019 07:22

Mine are tired - very very tired.

But i did expect it as we have had a really long school term this half term (8 weeks compared to the usual 6/7) amd tie that in with Christmas build up its a hideous mix.

Im planning on a really quiet lazy 1st day of the holidays

TheGriffle · 15/12/2019 07:29

I’m here to join the club! My two are 6 and 2 and are grumpy, crying over every little thing, rude, fighting constantly little monsters!

Dd1 in particular is very emotional and she is the one that usually has epic outbursts so I’m braced for this week. She doesn’t finish until Friday so a whole week left.

Fantail · 15/12/2019 07:32

@HeronLanyon yes! I would say pretty much everywhere in the Southern Hemisphere is the same.

Makes for a manic end of the year, plus it’s my busiest time at work. But tree is up, shopping pretty much done, and next weekend set aside for Christmas baking.

But then, from next weekend most people will be on holiday for 2 weeks. I finish on the 20th and don’t go back until the 6th. Always struggled with the 2nd Jan not being a public holiday in the UK.

gingerpusscat · 15/12/2019 07:41

It's been a challenging week for DS5 (has HFASD). He had his final prep transition session (we're in Australia, and he starts school at the end of January) and a Christmas play at our local library. He is completely dysregulated, and sobbed after watching the Nella the Princess Knight Christmas Special last night (which he'd been excited about watching for days.) It culminated this afternoon in me looking out the window into our garden space (shared with multiple neighbours) where he was playing, and he'd shed his clothes and was running around like a loon, completely naked. We try to keep things as low key as possible, but it's so hard. He loves the idea of Christmas but it really unsettles him too.

boatyardblues · 15/12/2019 07:49

DS2 (11) always goes off the deep end in the last couple of weeks before Christmas ever since he started primary school. He’s basically overtired, especially after his first term of high school, and hopped up on end of term party food/loss of routine. It’s the mid-winter equivalent of hangry. We don’t tolerate outrageous behaviour but we pick our battles. He is so reactive at the moment that even a sharp word can cause an argument or tears/door slamming.

MangoStone · 15/12/2019 08:03

Sorry OP but this made me laugh

they don't care and will go and take off a star if they are about to be naughty

Mine are older but DD13 is a complete pita at the moment if that helps.

Camomila · 15/12/2019 08:06

DSs (3.5) behaviour has been fine but he's had a run of slight poorliness - flu nasal spray/high temp/pre-school boosters so hasn't done very much in the way of pre-Christmas outings and has missed a few days of nursery to rest.

We went out for a pre-Christmas dinner with MIL and BIL and he was very well behaved, probably glad he wasn't ill anymore/had his appetite back again!

Abouttime1978 · 15/12/2019 08:26

Yep all three of mine have lost the plot. (Ages 7, 5 and 2).

It's been a ridiculously long term and they were exhausted after half term never mind now.

I've been putting them to bed early this week. The older ones go up at 6pm and have an audio book until 7pm, which seems to calm them!

This weekend they have all had their iPads (which is rare) and the time alone to just watch and do what they want has done them good. The attitude had calmed down and they are starting to watch each other's iPads and play together nicely!

We are keeping it low key, but school have so much going on this week that I'm not sure it will help

Mascarponeandwine · 15/12/2019 08:31

—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—

Mine are older now, but I clearly remember a blissful 2 minutes in 2010 when I put the wheeley bin out (in December in a t shirt)

Sleepysquirrelin · 15/12/2019 08:49

I hear you! Same here. They just can't cope with the excitement, change from the ordinary.

Original poster
ilovepenguins79 · 15/12/2019 08:50

This morning was have Frozen on and DD2 is very happy indeed. But DD1 is having a meltdown because she doesn't have the frozen 2 Anna dress. I have told her we are not made of money and she has an Anna dress she doesn't need another one but she is keeping on!

OP posts:
VashtaNerada · 15/12/2019 08:52

I teach Year One. They are all completely insane right now and ready for Christmas.

gamerwidow · 15/12/2019 08:55

They are tired and overwhelmed. So much is going on this time of year and their routines go out the window. just have a bit of quiet time and cuddles to get things back on track.

itgetshardereveryday · 15/12/2019 08:55

My 3yo is an only and he's ok when it's just us but we were out with 5yo nephew yesterday and it was hellish! They were both wild. I'm afraid I shouted at them both Blush

gamerwidow · 15/12/2019 08:58

This morning was have Frozen on and DD2 is very happy indeed. But DD1 is having a meltdown because she doesn't have the frozen 2 Anna dress. I have told her we are not made of money and she has an Anna dress she doesn't need another one but she is keeping on!*
Distract rather than arguing back. Kids are so annoying sometimes and my daughter can drive me mental too but if you can not engage back it doesn’t have to end in an argument.

CaramelCrunch · 15/12/2019 11:22

Thanks for starting this OP, DD has been a nightmare this week and I thought it was just me (she's 3.5 so no school yet but nursery have been doing tons of Christmas things so maybe they've all wound each other up)

I have yelled far more than I ever wanted to, as she is just relentless with her diva attitude. Mariah Carey has NOTHING on a 3 year old.

fin89 · 15/12/2019 11:56

My four year old has been sat on the naughty step constantly so your not alone but she is under the weather as well - everything is a fight basically and it's draining me!

Shinyletsbebadguys · 15/12/2019 12:04

Yep , they are shattered at the end of term. All the change of routine with festive fun (albeit it is mostly fun but bloody hell there is a lot ) has caused my two to morph into short reindeer antler attired demons.

I started the week with deep breaths and zen like "it's just the end of term this too shall pass" attitude and by Wednesday the Batman mother voice was a permanent addition.

I'm setting up a hot chocolate bar for their return from their fathers and I genuinely stood considering the likelihood of one throwing it over the other.

It would be bad to insist that Santa has changed bedtime to an hour earlier right ???

dementedma · 15/12/2019 12:11

Well mine were still up at 2am this morning playing Cards against Humanity and working through the Christmas booze, so it could be worse 😉

whyayepetal · 15/12/2019 12:25

Shiny, if I were you I’d be helping Santa to put the clocks forward an hour while the DC are still at their dad’s. Good luck, and hope the hot chocolate has magical calming properties. Grin Xmas Wink

Shinyletsbebadguys · 15/12/2019 12:31

Xmas Grin and that's all the encouragement I need Xmas Grin Santa owes me

WillyNilly00 · 15/12/2019 12:51

I work in childcare with children between 4 and 12 and could not agree more!
As PP have said lots of people cite the full moon and wind as things that can cause childrens behaviour to change. But mostly I think it's just the excitement and change of routine, my advice is to pick your battles don't take it personally.

Original poster
ilovepenguins79 · 15/12/2019 12:51

Haha that's a brilliant ideas @whyayepetal @Shiny

I have asked FC for a cocktail mixer this year I feel I am going to need it by xmas eve!

OP posts:
WillyNilly00 · 15/12/2019 12:52

*pick your battles and don't take it personally!

Boyomama11 · 15/12/2019 12:54

Wrap empty boxes, put them under the tree and when they're naughty make a point of taking one and putting it in the outside recycling bin and saving 'oh dear, I thought you were mature enough to have this present, I guess I was wrong so it will have to go in the bin.'

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