Apologies for my thread title - not meaning to be flippant about agoraphobia, but just couldn't think of any other shorthand for the problem I'm having with my DS1 (2.6) at the moment.
He doesn't seem to want to leave the house or go anywhere. Ever. Even to things I know he likes, like swimming or a big local park with a fab playground. We do go, of course, and he always seems to have a lovely time, but never wants to. Today, our local fire station had an open day, and I told him we were going, thinking he'd be thrilled as he adores fire engines and I told him he'd get to go in the etc. - but he sobbed and moaned "Want to stay at home!" over and over. I just don't understand it - is this normal toddler behaviour that anyone else has experienced?
It also manifests in screaming strops every time I try to get him dressed or put shoes on. I've tried letting him choose which clothes/shoes, giving him a choice between 2, or giving no choice. Same result. I end up having to wrestle him into clothes and shoes, screaming and slapping (him slapping, not me!)
The thing is, I would be happy to give in to this for a while and see if it helped, as we have nice things that we can do at home - drawing, reading, playdough, puzzles, indoor bike etc. But if we do stay in for a whole morning in our PJs, he gets very bored and moany and aimless, and ends up being destructive. I don't take him out to anything that I think might be alarming - just playgroups, library, the odd class (music and movement) and the park, so I really can't understand where he is coming from, and can recall no incident that might have triggered this- it just seems to have got gradually worse over the last several weeks.
I feel quite worn down by his moaniness and negativity at the moment, and have been quite snappish with him when trying to get him out of the house (doubtless not helping, trying to keep a lid on it) but at the same time my heart breaks for him as he just seems so miserable.
He goes to nursery 2 mornings a week, generally without too much fuss, and is often quite stroppy when picked up to come home. It makes me feel as if he doesn't want to be with me .
I think our home atmosphere is generally v good - DH and I don't row, we haven't moved recently, DS2 is 6 months old and this hasn't really coincided with his arrival, so I'm at a loss.
Sorry for v long, rambly post - can anyone offer any words of wisdom/reassurance? Is he just being a bugger, or should I be concerned (PFB, you know!)