I don't know if what he's doing is normal, or not, but I really REALLY find it hard to deal with almost 4 year old DS without losing my temper. I'm trying so bloody hard to avoid shouting at him, and it works mostly, but somedays (today), he's so trying it's unbelievable. I don't know whether I have a low patience threshold though (most fecking probably).
Examples of things he does:
- Will want to change clothes several times a day. Then has hissy fit if I say no he can't. He will wear only clothes he's picked himself. Hissy fit if I pick his clothes.
- Will only eat using certain cutlery-hissy fit if not available.
- Will rearrange entire layout of room on daily basis (rug, all stuff he can move), hissy fit if I move it back (I only do this for logistic reasons-he puts rug in front if his door, and I can't shut his for unless I move the rug back to where it was)
- Uses all my creams, lotions and potions. Hissy fit if I put them away.
- Has to know what he's having for packed lunch at nursery that day from the morning. Hissy fit if it's not what he wants.
- Receiving presets from friends and daily is an absolute minefield-he usually throws it on the floor after he's opened it and says its horrible.
Reading back, I sound pathetic as he probably does stuff most 4 year olds do. But when I'm feuding with him back to back (from the clothes he wears in the morning, to his cutlery at breakfast, then his packed lunch etc etc), it becomes so tiring. I just want him FOR ONE DAY to listen to me. But he won't, unless I raise my voice (which I hate doing). Is what he's doing normal? How can I be a better parent without losing my temper?
He looks utterly miserable sometimes that it makes me so sad :( :(