Feel Like im losing it!!

[pinkranger]

Hi , just looking for some advice and guidance of all you mums out there.
I have posted this in chat and just notice it should be here!
My ds is 4.6 and Sooooo much hard work, i must admit that when he is good he is so good and also very good at pre school never no problems but at home i just cant cope with him anymore .
He is not volient ( thank god)but so rude and horrid , he refuses to do what we ask him ( and tell) says no to everything and really pushes the bondraries to far. We have tried to make things a game with him (like getting dressed etc) but if he dosnt want to do it he wont and there is nothing you can do except get him physically dressed yourself, then as soon as your back is turned he strips himself of, if im at home i leave him in his room like that until he is ready to get dressesd again but most of the time this is not practical as we need to go out/school etc, i feel like all i do is shout at him and i dont want to be a mean mummy all the tiem , does listen to dad when he gets home but even that is a struggle!
We do all the normal things with him like time out step, take toys away, loses out on telly time etc but he just dont seem to care, i konw 4 year olds can be hard work but i have NEVER SEEN anything like it
i am 22 weeks pg and im sure this stress does me and the baby no god, or my ds or my dh, is it to much to ask for a normal life, just feel i need some help and have no where to go - sorry to ramble

sounds like you're doing all the right things. sometimes children play up with the people they feel most secure with.
Can you use a quiet corner (naughty step) for time out and if he gets out, just silently put him back?

Maybe it seems worse cos you are pregnant, tired & scared of having TWO - we all feel like that

not much help but didnt want your question to go unanswered

thank you , did say to dh if i cant cope with him how am im going to manage in August , dh is very supportive, bless! Think i do worry aswell

oh sweetie this does sound hardwork. can't really advise cos my eldest is only 2.7 but even at his age I find the whole ignore ignore ignore position the best one to adopt, works better than shouting or anything else really,although i do of course resort to shouting before I remember what worked last time. Chill, igonore and chill again, and lots of cuddles and love and positive praise?

Hugs.

Bloss

How long has he been so difficult? Does it coincide with the Easter holidays from school? It may just be a phase. Have there been any recent changes he could be reacting to? It could be a testosterone surge. Steve Biddulph, author of 'Secrets of Raising Happy Children' talks about boys having a testosterone surge and how it affects their behaviour. It is quite a good book to read when you are going through a difficult stage.
I have 2 DS and periodically go through stages like this. They do come and go and I am sure yours will too. Just hang on in there!!!