DD (4) has been a proper little madam just lately, but I have put this down to a change in routine and the fact that I am pg again.
Over the past few weeks her behaviour has deteriorated to such an extent that I would be quite happy to send her to stay with relatives for a while, only I wouldn't wish her behaviour on them.
She is rude and destructive, smashing things up around the house, slamming doors so that pictures wobble and fall off the walls. Her bedroom is full of smashed up toys and clean clothes are strewn all over the place. She has drawn and written on the walls and picked paint off the walls. She smacks me, tells me she hates me and wants to 'deaded' me. She tells me she hates the baby and tries to smack my bump. She kicks she pinches and she is just downright horrible.
She gets me to boiling point so the next thing I know I am screaming at her to get in her room, so I can have a break from her. She throws tantrums the like I have never seen and I work with kids on a daily basis. The house is in such a terrible state because she gets stuff out all over the place. I expect her to put things away before getting other stuff out (she's 4 and I know she is capable of doing it) but she says she can't, she's too busy, it's too heavy. I have threatened to throw it all in the bin because I am sick to death of looking at it.
I have tried naughty steps, putting her in her room, ignoring her all to no avail. We are now resorting to stopping treats, such as pudding, sweets, visits to nanny.
At the moment she is in her bedroom and is kicking the walls and screaming. She used to be such a loving little girl but is now horrible and I'm running out of patience with her. I don't want to be around her at the moment and I feel terrible for saying that, because at the end of the day, she's my baby.
I don't know what to do and none of the tried and tested behavioural methods I have learnt at work are working. Believe me, I have tried everyone in the book.
Dh works long hours and isn't always here to deal with the fall out although he did concede yesterday that I needed a break from her. As he is the only one working at the moment, I'm stuck with her whilst he is out til all hours. I know I am going to lose my temper with her properly and smack her, I just know it. I really don't want to do it but believe me, it is taking every ounce of strength I have not to go in there and let her have it. I know I sound like a terrible mother and I know it's a stage, but I can't go on much longer like this.
Sorry this is so long, but I do feel a tad better for getting it all out in the open.