I’m a SAHM and have an almost 4 year old son (only child). Over the last few months his behaviour has gotten worse and worse and I feel like I’m going insane.
He starts preschool in 2 weeks time and over the summer even his potty training has regressed. He was potty trained during the day since the start of the year but recently he has starting peeing and now pooing himself. Today he has had to be changed 7/8 times. He refuses to leave his toys when he has to go and he’s now at the stage where there’s a full puddle under him and it doesn’t phase him, he even splashes in it at times.
His behaviour has also gotten worse, he screams at me ALL day long. He won’t even let myself and my husband hold a conversation. He will scream over us or physically push one of us out of the room to split us up. He regularly attacks me (punching, kicking, hair pulling). Every time he goes in a time out he leaves it instantly and kicks whatever is around him. The only time he learns from a punishment is when I take his comforters and put them outside away from him.
His behaviour and toilet mishaps have coincided with him getting up too early every morning. He’s exhausted by midday and then the behaviour starts to go downhill. (He doesn’t do naps, he’s been refusing them since he was 1.5).
I feel like recently all I do every day is shout at him. He’s always up to no good, so it’s rare these days when he’s being good.
Regardless of how he is recently, he’s still a beautiful boy deep down, I love him with all my heart. I just feel like I’m an awful grumpy mother these days, I’m exhausted with the early mornings and constant demands and bad behaviour. I’m brought to tears over it every week. I wish I had a better relationship with him.
I do not enjoy being a mother at all these days, and I feel awful for saying it. I dread getting up every morning.
Where have I gone wrong with him? I’ve been reading about parenting since before he was born because I really want to get it right…I feel like I’ve failed already.
I guess I just needed a rant, but any advice would be much appreciated x