She's almost 5 and a half, an only child and I'm a single mum. She's always been quite good, difficult at times, just normal really. Recently her behaviour and attitude can be hard to deal with, and she's started the crying tantrums when she can't do something or if she doesn't get her own way.
I try to reason with her, but give firm boundaries. If she's playing and I say it's time to go, I let her finish what she's doing, or I give her warnings etc. Reward charts work well but we both get bored with them after a while.
Today's strop was because she couldn't get a toy to do what she wanted in the bath. I tried but of course it was wrong. Lots of crying now so I get her out and calmly do her teeth, dry her and ask her to get her pjs on. I said she'll get some of her pocket money taken away if she carries on, which she did. I can feel myself feeling so worked up, she's shouting that I've got to say sorry, she'll hit me in the morning (?!) and she's going to tell her friend.
In the end I say we can't do her school reading book and we'll have to tell her teacher why. I'm aware I have too many threats and ways of dealing with it, I need to stick to one. I took 50p away for her to earn back. Read her a story, had a kiss and she was fine. I just feel crap and like I'm doing a bad job. I think she's too old for those tantrums and she only has them for me. Feels like she hates me sometimes.