To say my 3 year olds behaviour is challenging would be an understatement.
He has a tantrums, some days none, some days back to back.
His day starts out with him being a very loving and affectionate boy, telling you he loves you etc, but the moment his little bare feet touch the carpet trouble starts.
Firstly, he?ll ask for a toy that is either microscopically small or you haven?t seen him play with for months and if you are unable to find it, a tantrum ensues, screaming, crying, punching himself in the head and face, rolling around the floor.
With his morning milk, he asks to be picked up, carried, sat with, I would so love to drop everything and accommodate him every time he asks, it?s such an innocent request but I have an older and younger child that need my attention too.
With the birth of DD 3 months ago he daily requests to be treated like a baby, held, rocked, pretend nappy change, playing on the gym and I do it, the experts recommend it yeah, it?s dead exhausting though, especially when you have a real baby to look after. Sometimes he coincides his requests with her crying and I do go to him first if possible to demonstrate that he is still important to me.
He wears an angry face about 70% of the day; I mean a real, screwed up, frowning pantomime face. He scares old ladies on the street who stop to chat to him, he is such a beautiful child, that when he screws up his face people instinctively laugh, which I?m afraid, unleashes the demon. He gets very angry and upset if he thinks he?s being laughed at.
I guilt trip that I do not spend enough time playing with him, he is very physical and I don?t always want to fight, jump or roll around the furniture and house. Building, drawing, painting, cars don?t hold his attention for more than 10 minutes at a time.
Everyday has to be park or playgroup to go somewhere to satisfying his physical needs.
He?s attended a private nursery since he was 6 mths old but as I?ve been a SAHM this year he?s only gone once a week, loves it. He starts Pre-School on the 12th January, which he had a taste of in December and is mad for it, he cannot wait to go every day so I am genuinely hoping it may make him happy.
Spending time with his big brother 5, over the Xmas hols has done wonders for their relationship, they play solidly and DS1 can be very accommodating but also an irritating wind up, but hey that is normal sibling behaviour.
He loves his baby sister and chases anyone and I mean anyone, even the MWs and HVs if they look at her, a mouth full of abuse is guaranteed and it?s highly embarrassing.
His dad started a new job a few months back and is unfortunately out of the house 12 hours a day so see?s the kids only at bedtime. DS2 misses him badly, all day he says, ?I hate dad?. Upon DHs return he shouts, ?I love you dad?, which we interrupt to mean he hates his dad being away but loves it when he?s back. He then proceeds to spend what little time he has with his dad hitting him, kicking him, punching him, screaming in his ear etc. Boys need rough and tumble and DH gets stuck in but DS2 just cannot accept when it?s time to stop and ends up getting punished which DH finds really distressing.
We?ve tried it all with him. Praise. Firmness. Rewards. Talking. Affection. Reassurance. All the while he seems angry at the world. He often shouts, ?Grrrr, you?re not listening?, I am though, I cannot always give him the answer he wants to hear or am distracted for a millisecond. Alternatively he calls himself a naughty boy and no amount of telling him the contrary makes any difference.
Help me make my boy happy. He is stunning, I know all moms?s say this but I swear he?s a show stopper; I just want to help him be happy.