When I say I despair I mean I am really in absolute despair and have no idea what to do anymore. I have tried absolute everything and I mean everything I have scoured all corners of the Internet looking for a solution and nothing works.
My 5yo will not go to sleep until 9/10 sometimes 11 o clock at night. He is then completely miserable and grumpy and acting like a hormonal teenager in the mornings and I absolutely dread it.
He is calling for me constantly throughout the evening saying he's sad because he misses grandma (despite talking to her thay day most times and seeing her weekly), asking me questions, messing around with whatever he can get his hands on (I've removed most toys) being noisy and what not. It's really not good for him because he is so so tired the next day. He bottles it all in at school then he can barley move off the sofa once home.
I'm a single parent who works nearly full time with no involvement from his dad and extremely limited family support.
I've tried:
-Story box with stories/podcasts/soothing sounds
-Magnesium tablets and a cream (separately).
-a reading lamp so he can read quietly/no reading lamp
-staying in with him to start (often makes him worse)
-we've had a steady wind down routine since baby which includes bath, story milk and bed
-earlier/later bed time
-gentle parenting techniques/strict parenting
-outright bribery
All these techniques I've been persistent with for a number of weeks as well. I have no time for myself not even an hour in the evening. I'm exhausted and drained and feel like this will just be forever (it's been over 2 years now). I have other chronic health problems but that's by the by at this point.
He has a fairly balanced diet and does swimming and one other club each week. We mix up activities on the weekend and he has a secure and balanced home life. The only thing I can think of is he is a slightly shy child but that's it.
Any help please???? I'm desperate