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10 year old argumentative and sleep disruption

4 replies

Anon444 · 27/07/2024 23:50

My DS almost 10 years old has started being really difficult. He will argue about anything and everything. If I need to pop out, he kicks off. The same applies to almost everything else - ask him to take a shower, bring his plate out, time for bed. He gets quite a lot of time to do what he wants but he will not accept sometimes other people have things to do. There is definitely an element of wanting to set his own boundaries. Recently bed times have been a nightmare. He will come down and say he is scared, needs a drink, one last hug, my pillow is too hard/ soft, too hot, too cold, feel sick. I have got to the point where I am convinced he just does it to try and get a reaction. I am out of patience with him as is his dad. There have been some shouting matches, lost the PlayStation etc. have tried talking to him during the day when he is a bit calmer but I am at a loss what to do. I keep thinking it’s a phase but it doesn’t seem to get any better. Any suggestions? Help!

OP posts:
RappersNeedChapstick · 28/07/2024 07:57

You have my upmost sympathy as my DC2 was very much like this. The good news is they once they start puberty he will probably no longer want you going in his room at night Wink

What's his nighttime routine like right now?

Anon444 · 28/07/2024 09:32

It’s not great. Because he refuses to entertain any kind of routine. I try to get the tech off at a decent time before bedtime. But he will refuse to go up to his room. 5 more minutes turns into an hour. I don’t insist he is in bed with the lights out - happy for him to read for a bit. This used to work but recently he just insists he isn’t tired (he is) and will spend ages arguing against any attempt to stick to boundaries.

OP posts:
RappersNeedChapstick · 28/07/2024 12:50

One thing that worked for us was for everytime they refused to go to bed, they went to bed 5 minutes earlier the next night.

FlippingFishes24 · 28/07/2024 20:29

I feel you... My sons 10 and his sleep is awful, similar sort of thing. He tries everything and anything to not go to sleep, says he scared of being on his own!

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