DS will be 5 on MOnday. We had his party recently, and he behaved terribly. He would not share, he had a tantrum if any of the games did not go his way, or protested so badly if someone else won something and he didn't. He would push, hit or say something horrible to someone and if they retailiated he runs crying to us saying "so and so" hit/pushed me" and expect us to tell that child off - when it was DS who started it! I could go on and on. I have seen him behave this way in other social situations too. I don't expect him to be perfect - it had been a long day, he was tired and excited - but I was really by his behaviour, in particular towards one little girl who he would not let touch any of his things (who he had behaved in the same way towards when she came round to play a few months ago - although he is OK playing with her other places). He usually shares with DH and me, his sister when she visits, and two of his very close friends.
He is our only child together (I have a DSD, who lives with her mum). He is still very attention seeking towards me, won't play independantly if we are around, preferring our attention 24/7, won't play in the garden on his own and even if we are there wants us to be fully engaged in what he is doing. He has loads of toys, games, creative activities that he can play with either on his own or with us - but spends most of his time trying to manipulate our attention. Oh and that the moment he is being funny with food - the perfect attention seeking device.
He has just started school and I worry that he does this behaviour (controlling, selfish, demanding, aggressive) there because TBH if he does, he won't have many friends - or end up being friends with children no one else wants to play with because of their behaviour. He has other qualities - he's very affectionate, loving, kind, sensitive, and very intelligent. It's just that when he gets into any kind of competitive situation, or play situation, he wants to be top dog and his bad side comes out.
We have not been big on punishing him but lately we have started to send him upstairs for five minutes for a time out, and if he throws a tantrum while playing with one of his toys - that toy now gets taken away from him for a couple of days. The little girl who he was horrible to at the party, I have told him he can't open her present for a few days.
I love my son but sometimes he makes me so angry when he acts out - DH and I just don't know what to do.