Posting here for a little hand-holding and some advice please.
DD is nearly 4, and is an only child. She's not overly spoiled (as in she doesn't always get what she wants, isn't bought treats daily/weekly just because she wants them, and is required to stick to the house 'rules') and is fairly bright - already starting to read and write, dresses herself (zips & buttons), can button shoes, clean own teeth, take self to toilet etc.
We're on holiday at the moment, so whether it's the change of comfort setting, or developmental I don't know but the last four or five days have been hell.
She's waking earlier than usual, and coming in to us. I have no problem with that if she gets into bed and is reasonably quiet until 'getting up time'. That's what we do at home.
But no, she wants to bash stuff. Her current thing to bash is us, using one of her toys (a sort of beanbag bear) then blaming it. She wants to kick the furniture because it's noisy.
We're on a farm so I can't open the door and let her run around unsupervised; there are animals roaming, and machinery about.
Every meal time is a battle. It is taking upwards of 30 minutes to get her to sit and eat half a plate of food (like beans on a slice of toast). She fidgets, gets up, drops food, plays with cutlery, lunges for our drinks, her drinks, other children....
Two days ago at a show which we'd gone to as a friend was in it she kept running around, kicking chairs, trying to get onto the stage. If I held her on my lap she shrieked, distracting people. I took her outside (to the porch, it was pouring with rain) and she quietened down. Brought her back in, repeat performance....
We've visited a few beaches. Made her hold hands standing in the sea paddling because we don't know the beaches well. Yesterday she pulled away from me and stepped in deeper. Lost her balance, fell over, got soaked. Cue much wailing and sobbing and promises to listen.
Today, in a car park, pulled away from my grip and ran off. Had to be almost rugby-tackled to the floor. Tantrum with screaming at full lung capacity.
Her current phrase is a sulky "People do what THEY want. I do what I WANT'.
Time out doesn't work. Loss of priviledges doesn't work. Packing up from whatever we're at and coming back to the place we're staying at doesn't work.
I don't have reins. There are no nearby shops as we're in the middle of nowhere. There is no enclosed garden to let her tantrum in.
Yesterday DH and I were both in tears by the end of the day as it's so exhausting.
If we weren't visiting people here and if we wouldn't lose money I'd just say fuck it and all go home.
Is there anyone out there who can help save our sanity and bring back my cheerful, loving daughter?
(FWIW, we're not eating sweets, playing computer games, or watching tv)