Am I expecting too much from 5 year old

[Jupitertomars]

Should he be able to get ready himself without too much hassle?

Should he be able to sit nicely in a restaurant with colouring and a toy?

Feel like im fed up with my 5.5 year old. I also have a 9 month old and OH works away so I do have quite a lot of things to do and organised and sometimes I just wish he would do as he was told and without too much moaning but everything seems to be a battle.

He wanted to take a ball to school today and I said no as I dont think his behaviour was good enough. This lead to loads of screaming and crying. Telling me he hates this place and that hes sleeping outside tonight.

Im just fed up of the constant battles. This morning for example he kept leaving the table whilst eating breakfast. I kept having to remind him over and over to eat breakfast. Then its time to get ready and I give him clothes and ask him to put them on.

He then conveniently falls and screams and shouts on me to help him. I tell him to hurry up and get his clothes on.

When I come in to his room 5 mins later hes still in pyjamas. Then after warning him to get ready I come in 5 mins later and he has his arm through his tshirt head hole pretending he doesnt know why it isnt going on properly.

Then I call him to brush his teeth and he comes then runs away and cries that he doesnt like brushing his teeth.

Same when I try to brush his hair.

Then its time to get socks and shoes on and he complains that the socks are uncomfortable and wants me to sort them.

It would be quicker for me to.get him ready myself but at 5 I dont feel im.asking too much.

Another example is we were out for fathers day dinner yesterday. He had a game with him but instead of sitting nicely he complains its so boring. He crawls under the table and on top of us. Puts salt on the table ect.

Am I expecting too much by being fed up of this behavior or is it quite normal. Should I be confiscating treats like taking the ball to school due to this.

I felt awful this morning as he was really upset and I don't know if I'm being harsh

Sounds like my 5 year old. Some children are more difficult to manage, I think its a personality thing. I'm quite strict with DS and also have reward systems to motivate him but he really enjoys getting up to mischief. How does your child behave in school? Mine behaves very well for the teacher but shows his true self with me! I'm just grateful he confines the mischief to home.

Yes its very well behaved in school. Does what hes told and very respectful of authority outwith his family so I know it could be worse.

Its hard because when I do punish him its either over something which seems small and trivial but its just the final straw or ill just say its due to his behaviour as I cant list off all the things at the precise moment e.g. not getting ready, running away when trying to brush teeth ect ect.

Then sometimes I think is it just normal children behaviour to carry on in this way. I obviously dont want him to be a robot that simply follows my demands.

Just feel like im constantly having to tell him do this or do that or stop doing this and stop doing that.

He does get rewards too for doing something well but im conscious of rewarding him too often where he begins to expect it all of the time.

He would put his shoes away and ask for a reward. Socks in the washing basket and ask for a reward.

My other son is 7 and was similar at that age but a good bit easier to manage now. Hopefully its an age thing too and he'll calm down a bit with time.

At 5 mine were able to sit still in a restaurant because I worked non-stop on involving them in the conversation and keep them amused. It looked good- I didn't have to keep telling them off (usually)- but it didn't happen by magic. When I see other children of that age behaving impeccably in public, there is often a parent nearby putting in the same amount of work. Of course you could say they should be able to entertain themselves with a book or some colouring in. But when dh takes me out for a meal he doesn't expect me to entertain myself by reading a book.

Cory YY my experience too with DD and other young children I have worked with. It looks like they're colouring and sticking but it takes about ten billion pointers, comments, helps etc.

My 4.5 year old is the same. I got frustrated yesterday as he had my whole attention in the café yet was still crawling round the table shouting etc etc