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Christmas

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Original poster

How did your 5 and 7 year olds behave on Christmas Day?

37 replies

aweebitlost · 26/12/2021 15:02

Background - we are starting process for SN diagnosis with DS (age 5). He had quite a few angry episodes over the course of the day yesterday but I guess that's not too surprising given the background.

However. DD (7) was also pretty shouty at times yesterday. She's an extremely kind and thoughtful child, very helpful, very grateful for all her gifts. But I think she found the emotion of the day overwhelming (e.g. she had a huge cry at about 4pm about Christmas being over).

Last Christmas was very similar in that it was just the 5 of us at home but it was glorious. No shouting or upsets. The previous year we were on holiday and it was also great. This one felt really disappointing in contrast.

I suppose I'm wondering how other 5 and 7 year old founds it? I would expect the odd cry/upset from toddlers - so much excitement and sugar etc - though funnily enough our 3 year old was an absolute dream yesterday. But is it normal for 7 year olds to still get upset and cross on Christmas?! We had the day as low key as possible to mirror last year.

OP posts:

Tabbypawpaw · 26/12/2021 15:08

I think it can be overwhelming and very tiring emotionally which results in outbursts. How are they today/a normal day? My 7 yr old was pretty great all day which I was surprised about as he can be difficult but whacked his sister round the chops with a toy snake in the bath at 6pm. Of course he was told off but I put it down to being overwhelmed and tired.

Ijustneedtosleep21 · 26/12/2021 15:14

The 2 year olds were better than the 5yo! Multiple meltdowns which seems to be the norm at the moment!

SalmonEile · 26/12/2021 15:15

Did they eat a lot of food they wouldn’t normally eat?
I think in general for kids who are that age the hype and build up can be immense so when the day finally arrives the emotions can take over

Original poster

aweebitlost · 26/12/2021 15:26

Thanks, that's actually really reassuring. 7 year old is much calmer today. 5 year old was aggressive a couple of times this morning but has been calm since lunch. Food wise they did have some chocolate in the morning which they normally wouldn't, but we made sure they had a good breakfast to try to absorb the sugar rush. But typing this it has struck me that meal times have been all over the place which probably hasn't helped.

DH and I were saying last night we have no memories of getting upset or misbehaving at Christmas when we were kids, but it probably happened, we just only remember the good parts...

OP posts:

WakeUpLockie · 26/12/2021 15:29

Mine are 6 and 4. When the 6 year old was 5 he was fucking savage, just full of rage. It’s a shit age.

Yesterday they had OK behaviour but have feral 1 and 3 yo cousins here so that may have taken the lens off my 2 haha. Episodes of crying and lots of noise due to overwhelm and 4 adults trying to micromanage them all day (not mine and DH’s style, it really rankles). Sick of my sibling telling our kids off at the drop of a hat but letting their own run wild unsupervised and being dumped on us. Anyway! Christmas is overwhelming and I don’t think it brings out the best in anyone.

converseandjeans · 26/12/2021 15:32

Did you have a relaxing build up or did you do lots of visits to things like Santa, Christmas train, ice skating etc... I think the last week of term in school is tiring with all the events & sometimes they need to just chill. It's hard to get the balance right sometimes between keeping them busy & letting them chill.

finallychangedmyusername · 26/12/2021 15:34

DS1 is 7, and has autism and ADHD, and DS2 is 4. Aside from a brief moment of chaos having opened Santa presents (and then wanting to immediately open all presents from Mummy and Daddy), they were both really good yesterday. I think the key was that I cheated and did an easy/pre-prepared Christmas Dinner. Also I let DS1 eat his usual (bland and restricted) diet. Both DC played well with their toys, DS1 by himself happily. We're now all suffering with colds though, so guess we will be isolating for a while. Hopefully the good behaviour will continue!

Blackmagicqueen · 26/12/2021 15:39

My 4 year old (close to 5) was really good and a pleasure, my 2 year old had a lot of crying outbursts due to not wanting his dinner and being overwhelmed and tired (he is experiencing terrible 2’s much worse than dc1) who was worse at 3! Yesterday he refused to settled unless on dh’s knee during Christmas dinner which spoilt things. I’m hoping this means dc2 will be better at 3!

Christmas is getting gradually better but I feel I won’t be truly out of the woods until dc2 is a child and not a toddler anymore, it is relentless.

ViceLikeBlip · 26/12/2021 15:43

My 7yo and even my 9YO (both NT) can still get overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, emotional at times.

I think a big indicator is how easily and how quickly they can calm themselves down. Mine do sometimes need to stomp off to their rooms, but once up there they don't then trash the room or anything - they usually lie on their bed in a bit of a grump, maybe draw an angry picture (usually with some sweary speech bubbles 🤦‍♀️) and they've calmed themselves down with 10 minutes or so.

A bit shouty and grumpy when tired etc sounds pretty standard to me.

Original poster

aweebitlost · 26/12/2021 15:47

finallychanged I'm glad you had a great day

I'd say we had a fairly relaxing build up. I don't book much because I find December is busy enough without the added events. We went to a Christmas village last weekend which was busy and exciting, that was it really.
5yo goes to a very gentle, nature focused outdoor nursery so that was business as usual. The only thing they did was make lanterns and have carols round the fire! 7yo didn't have masses going on at school either. No show or Santa or anything. I think there is still a lot of excitement nonetheless.

OP posts:

Blackmagicqueen · 26/12/2021 15:49

” DH and I were saying last night we have no memories of getting upset or misbehaving at Christmas when we were kids, but it probably happened, we just only remember the good parts..”

Op I reckon DGPs only remember the best bits too conveniently. My own dm has a misguided sense of achievement and pride when she often tells me how I and my siblings slept through since babies every night and never had tantrums. She will raise this when I’m having issues with my dc. I highly suspect we slept so far away in shut doored rooms that they wouldn’t have heard or cried it out until we stopped.
As for wobblers I actually corrected her recalling a memory of at tantrum at 2 over not getting my own way and she shocked horror “couldn’t remember” and “it must have been a one off” the mind boggles …

Original poster

aweebitlost · 26/12/2021 15:50

ViceLikeBlip good point about the calming down. Yes, 7yo can calm down pretty easily by herself. 5yo really can't. He needs lots of adult help.

WakeUpLockie Interesting that 5 was a rubbish age for your oldest! I don't remember DD being a difficult 5 year old once she'd got over the starting school exhaustion but she was definitely hard work at 4...

OP posts:

ParadiseLaundry · 26/12/2021 15:54

So pleased I've seen this thread, DS is 6 and he was an absolute monster yesterday! He's usually pretty chilled and well behaved (if not a bit boisterous).

We put it down to the late night Xmas eve, chocolate for breakfast and being overwhelmed.

Staggersaurus · 26/12/2021 16:00

My 6 year old DS who is usually a super chilled kid ended up crying twice yesterday. He got totally overwhelmed and I had to take him somewhere quiet for a cuddle to calm him down. Christmas is overstimulating with a lack of normal routine. It’s a perfect blend for meltdowns.

finallychangedmyusername · 26/12/2021 16:02

To add to my earlier post, it was quite uncharacteristic of both DC to be both having a good day yesterday. 🤣 I think the jump for DS1 from age 6 to 7 has helped. I do think age 3/4/5/6 is a tough age for DC (and the parents!)

VaguelyInteresting · 26/12/2021 16:05

My 5yo is a lovely, lovely kid but he can be hard work atm generally- yesterday was no exception, and today.

Bit aggressive, 0 good listening, won’t play any games without crying if it looks like he isn’t winning, won’t sit to eat a meal....

It’s general over tiredness, over stimulation & sugar I think. We’re going out for a LONG walk tomorrow, come rain, snow or blow, and then he’s having an early night. Hoping that’ll “restore factory settings”

ParkheadParadise · 26/12/2021 16:10

I had 12 kids in my house yesterday. Dd(6) was happy to play with them nicely, to begin with.
If I'm honest all the kids were running about wild 🙈.
My niece then asked if her 2 could stay overnight.
Dd was shattered and all three of them were sleeping at 8pm she'd been up since 5am.
Dd is usually well-behaved except when all the cousins get together.

We had a jammie day today my niece seems to have forgotten that she's left her kids here 😂

Goldbar · 26/12/2021 16:14

4 yo was OK until the evening (it helped that we went out for a walk in the afternoon so they got to run around a bit). They then proceeded to announce at 8pm that they were staying up all night to play with new toys and screamed loudly at any attempt to get them into bed. In the end, we let them fall asleep in front of the TV and then transferred them to bed.

We're all a bit shattered today. Since DC is no longer following a chocolate diet, I have hopes of avoiding a repeat.

ChristmasWithBellsOn · 26/12/2021 16:20

Thank God for this thread, DD5 has been monstrous for three days running now. Even Nana commented on it... And normally Nana gives way more leeway than we do.

She hasn't been having tantrums, but everything (and I mean EVERY THING) is a battle, she's contrary to the point of cutting her nose off to spite her face.

2319inprogress · 26/12/2021 16:24

6yr old was amazing yesterday- just delighted by everything & gloriously happy. I was amazed tbh as most days she's 75% joy & 25% tragic/furious/angry/stomping about because of some perceived slight

She was unintentionally rude when given a Lego set she already has but it would have been fine if my mother hadn't rushed in to "protect" my brother (in his 40s!!!) from the perceived slight

ParkheadParadise you are clearly the best aunt ever!

ParkheadParadise · 26/12/2021 16:37

@2319inprogress
ParkheadParadise you are clearly the best aunt ever!
Don't know about that. I've messaged her several times today @ 3 pm she was just up and going to have a shower 🙉 I've told her l will give them their dinner. I know she is waiting for me to say it's ok I'll keep them tonight.

2319inprogress · 26/12/2021 16:44

[quote ParkheadParadise]**@2319inprogress
ParkheadParadise you are clearly the best aunt ever!
Don't know about that. I've messaged her several times today @ 3 pm she was just up and going to have a shower 🙉 I've told her l will give them their dinner. I know she is waiting for me to say it's ok I'll keep them tonight.[/quote]
Nope you are definitely the best aunt ever, your niece OTOH

Neither of my aunts have so much as been in a room alone with my kids & would both rush in the opposite direction if asked to do so 😂

Goldbar · 26/12/2021 16:46

Room for another one? PM me your address and I'll send my 4yo over. They've just announced that they're planning to stay up all night again tonight .

Bunnycat101 · 26/12/2021 16:47

5yo was overwhelmed and overtired. We had an hour meltdown over batteries. I think it is all just a bit much for them. My 2yo was much easier other than refusing to eat anything.

Salahdor · 26/12/2021 16:48

9 year old DS had a great day yesterday on the whole. He couldn’t find something special to him around 4pm and had an inconsolable cry until it was located. Think it came from being so excited in the morning. After a good cry he was back to playing and declared it the best day ever.

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