I love DS (4) to bits. He is bright, funny and feisty. But my God, I have just about had enough of his demands that I play with him what seems like constantly. OK, it isn't constantly - there are windows in the day, usually later in the day, when he will occupy himself for half-an-hour or more and that's my chance to tear around and get loads done. But by that point, I feel like putting my feet up and doing nothing!
This morning, DS woke up a bit early and I asked him to play by himself for a bit, next to the bed so he could be close by, just while I had a bit more sleep. Cue an hour-long heated "discussion" (basically a slanging match) between the two of us. He said he will not ever, ever play on his own; that he feels alone when he plays by himself. He said he felt disappointed because I had wasted play time before school by staying in bed and not getting up to play with him. He said I was mean and horrid, attempted to kick me (I'm not having that!) and slammed doors a few times. He also did a tiny wee on the floor and said it happened because, "When you were mean, Mummy, I wet myself." My God, what a bloody miserable start to the day!
We have both apologised, turned things around a bit, talked about compromise and he has called me a "perfect" mummy (don't know how he came to that conclusion!), but I really don't want this dynamic to be regularly rearing its head for a while to come. AIBU to want an occasional, mini lie-in and to do my own thing with him beside me doing his own thing? I have lots of interests and prize time on my own, so this is more than a bit suffocating for me. The resentment is building.
I have a friend who doesn't play with her son ever and another who bans playing on a school morning. I'm not saying I want to go this far, and these are families with two parents and two or three kids - but how do they do that?!
Is DS's behaviour par for the course for an average four-year-old, or at least a young only child with only one resident parent?
Grateful for any reassurance/advice.