6 year old - life is hard

[mummyofonesofar]

My DS is 6, always known his own mind and can be very independent and always has been. Though recently he has been trying to control every single situation. And saying some really hurtful things too. He also seems to want my attention 24/7 I'll be dishing up dinner and he still isn't out of his karate kit like I asked him an hour before so I tell him he isn't eating until he is changed so he starts shouting at me saying he isn't changed because I haven't laid his clothes out for him! And if I'm not helpful anymore then he won't be helpful by getting changed. 15 mins later he was changed and sat down eating his dinner but why do we have to have an argument over everything before he does what he was asked in the first place?! Anyone else struggling with a strong willed, argumentative, angry 6yo?

I could have written your post! My Ds (5) is like this. He's always known his own mind and is very stubborn. At the moment we've been having arguments over nearly everything I ask him to do. He either completely ignores me or argues back. It's driving me up the wall at the moment too, so I know how you feel. I don't have much advice unfortunately, but I've found that trying to pick my arguments reduces the stress a bit, or just ignoring him back and leaving the room. Otherwise it seems to escalate to a proper standoff. I also went through a phase of paying him 20p a day to get his clothes on and brush his teeth with no arguments!