Currently sat here with a bloodshot, black eye from an unprovoked punch by my three year old. This isn’t a rare occurrence. I can be just sitting on the couch, minding my own business and he will hit me out of nowhere.
He is a very happy child, everyone comments on how happy and confident he comes across. Developmentally, he’s hitting all his targets. He can hold a conversation, follow instructions etc. It’s just this behaviour that’s causing issues. He doesn’t hit out at anyone else, just me. He rarely listens to me and throws tantrums if I say no to basically anything. I’ve tried time outs, tried getting down to his level to explain why we don’t hit or why he can’t have something. I’ve tried rewarding good behaviour, I’ve tried taking things off him if he’s acting out. He just screams which completely overwhelms me.
It’s now having a negative effect on my relationship with his dad. He can’t seem to understand why I get so overwhelmed. He thinks we are causing the behaviour our child is displaying. Granted, we can both get frustrated and shout at times which we are aware of and working on. Most of the time now, I will leave the room if my son is having a tantrum (after trying to calm him down) but that just seems to make him worse.
It’s breaking my heart as he is such a loving child and when he’s not having one of these meltdowns, we have so much fun, even if it’s just cuddling on the couch, watching tv.
I just need some advice from parents who have been in a similar situation, what worked for your little one? I’m so worried he will start acting out at Nursery and be asked to leave.