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Behaviour/development

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Cancelling day out for bad behaviour

4 replies

ThisRedHiker · 23/10/2025 20:53

My 8 year old pushed her little sister against an ironing board with a hot iron on it when 3 year old accidentally ran against her. She first shouted at her and then pushed her. I managed to grab the hot iron so it didn’t fall on 3year old. It 3yr old’s birthday this weekend and we had a fun day out planned. I thought we could go tomorrow instead while 8year old is at school and have her grandparents pick her up. Her behaviour has been so hard to deal with and I am dreading having to go on this outing that is supposed to be fun with her and deal with meltdowns and constant anger. I know she will be very disappointed but I explained to her if her behaviour improves in the next week we can think about going in a weeks time, that her behaviour is just too much for me to handle at this time. She says she is angry because she wants to spend more time with me so I said to her so why when I have a fun thing planned for us that you are so excited do you get so angry every time we talk about it. Her emotions are just so much, so up and down and she has always been like that. I have always felt like I can’t really relax with her as I don’t know when the next meltdown is coming and I have to constantly be thinking into the future to prevent any meltdowns. Especially if we’re doing something fun, her emotions- good and bad will for sure be extreme and I just want to enjoy some time with my younger daughter without it being about 8year olds temper tantrums. When she wants to she can also be very well behaved, but for some reason last few days since we have been planning this outing her meltdowns have been really hard and her pushing her sister against the iron was just the last straw for me. I think it is more about me not wanting her to ruin this outing on her sisters birthday than about punishing her. What do you all think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ThisRedHiker · 23/10/2025 21:03

Today when I picked her up from school she was being angry about something and when I told her to get into the car she started shouting help I’m being kidnapped! Help help, let me go you kidnapper!

OP posts:
ThisRedHiker · 23/10/2025 21:05

She also said to me if I don’t take her on this outing she will say at school that I murdered her brother (that she’s never had)

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 24/10/2025 07:24

I don’t think in this instance that you wouldn’t be unreasonable to go on the outing without her. She may not like it but it’s a trip for her siblings birthday, not her birthday and it sounds as though she’s having difficulty with the attention being on them and not her.

I would though arrange an hour or two over the weekend for just you and her, even if its just a walk around the park and going to the library.

I would also ignore her threats about what she’s going to say in school, maybe make the Teacher aware before she goes in.

How long would you say her tantrums and tempers last and how is she in school? Does she for instance have trouble with her friendships often?

Trainsandcars · 26/10/2025 04:36

I think youre reading too much into her intentions ie pushed her sister into an ironing board etc.. Actually she pushed her sister - there happened to be an ironing board. She wasnt trying to burn her with an iron.

I dont think punishing by denying days out works and youre punishing both then or worse still drawing a dividing line between them.

I suggest reading Siblings without rivalry and finding ways to help with emotions management. It isnt easy but its probably the best starting point.

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