Arrrgh any advice how to deal with a moody ten year old?
DS has never been a particularly positive child. He was very shy and anxious as a toddler and younger primary school and refused to join in any extra curricular activities out of school, birthday parties etc (and got in such a state about it, almost full blown panic attacks).
Now he is a little better in that regard (he even does a small drama club once a week) but he is such a meant, negative person that it is really getting me down. I am single parent and also have DS, 7, who is completely opposite, positive, bubbly personality.
We have had a week off school and everything has been an effort, I’ve been left in tears most days, all activities we have had planned, from family climbing session to just going to my parents for dinner has been met with moans, tears, near tantrums, refusals. He always seems to have something wrong, headaches, sore throats, sore arm etc etc (but magically clear up when he’s doing something he likes - for e.g. he had a sleepover last night and was fine)...
He does a music lesson once a week and has started moaning and crying about going: he was keen a lot of money has been invested in lessons, kit etc but now it’s become another punishment for him and us!
I’m so drained. He just wants to hang around playing computer games, but that makes him in even more of a mood.
I feel so bad for DD, I asked her what she wanted to do today and she mentioned a park but then looked sad and said “but DS will just moan’.
Honestly it’s taking over everything, he hates school, any organised activity, any spontaneous activity we do together et etc.
I don’t even know what I’m hoping for with this message, maybe just some advice - or is anyone going through similar?