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HELP - thinking of giving up work because DS behaviour has dramtically changed!!

6 replies

funnykc · 30/01/2008 11:01

Think I have finally reached the point where I give up!!
I've been a single mum for 2 years. DS is 5 in April and started school last September. He couldn't wait to go and I think is doing quite well academically.
The problem is his behaviour over the last week is driving me mad. He refuses to get dressed in the morning. Tears and tantrums follow when I dress him. Now he refuses to go to the toilet and poos/wees himself. He won't tell me whats wrong, just shrugs his shoulders when I try and talk to him.
Then he tells me this morning that he wants me to be like the other mummys and take/pick him up from school!!
I work full time & have done since he was a year old & I travel a bit for work. Not ideal but I thought DS was happy. So this has stunned me.
Do I give up work?? Or do I try and see this though and hope he doesn't hate me for trying to give him a decent life!!

Any advice?? Anyone had similar problems that turned out alright in the end??

Sorry for long post just don't know what to do for the best!!

Thanks,

KC

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skyatnight · 30/01/2008 12:44

Hi funnykc. I've not had this problem (yet) because dd is only 2 but I was reading something on toilet training and it said that children often regress with toilet training when they got to school, and particularly boys. It is not uncommon for them to start refusing to use the toilet and/or wetting/poo-ing themselves and basically sitting in it.

From what I have read, it's something to do with the following: When they first go to school it is exciting but then, eventually, it dawns on them that this is it, they go every day and it's always going to be like this. Not only that, but it is a more rigid environment where the teacher is in charge and there is not so much flexibility for individuals to express themselves. This can lead to regression because a little boy wants to assert himself, be the leader, the boss. When he was at home with you, or even at playschool, it was less structured and you could reach an acceptable compromise between you.

So the toilet-training regression is a protest and an attempt to get attention and be in charge. So far, so obvious. He doesn't really know why he is doing it because he is just expressing himself, reacting to the stress he feels. His asking you to be like some other Mummies and take him/pick him up from school is because it would give him some reassurance, because he wants to be like his friends perhaps, and because he wants to see if you will do what he wants (has he got some say, can he assert himself).

Anyway, I'm not an expert but I don't think you have to give up work because of this as it is a phase that he will grow out of (just very difficult while it is happening). It is not entirely possible for him to understand at his age the importance of your working. That you are doing your best to provide for him, doing a good job and building a future for both of you. But if you could try and explain this to him all the same? That your going to work means that you can have a nice life and do some nice things. Ask him whether there is anything you can do to make things better for him (apart from giving up work). Offer him lots of reassurance and give him a say in some little things which make him feel that he is important. So, basically, don't react or get angry when he has an 'accident', show him a lot of attention, and give him loads of reassurance.

Don't worry. You're doing really well to be working (he will really appreciate this when he is older) and are a good parent too. There's always some compromise somewhere isn't there? The perfect mother would be working full time to bring in the money and set an example and she would also be at home full time to cope with every eventuality. It's not possible.

(BTW, the poo-regression-thing happened with the son of a friend of mine and she was a full-time stay at home married mother so it's not really to do with you working.)

Very long-winded as usual but hope it helps and that some others come along with more advice or actual experience of this. Also, perhaps post (if you haven't already) on the potty-training board.

wooga · 30/01/2008 19:37

Hi FK, have you tried chatting with your ds's teacher to see if there's something at school that's bothering him?

Maybe plan for a special thing to do with your ds once a week eg. friday evening-give him something to look forward to doing with you?

Sorry, can't think of much helpful stuff!

MeMySonAndI · 30/01/2008 21:07

Difficult one, I'm currently looking for another job and what I have at the top of the wish list is to be able to continue picking up from school .

He looks so happy when he sees me at the end of the school day that I can not bear the thought of me not being there, missing a hug and a big smile. But, I'm sure that plenty of parents don't pick up their children from school themselves, and the children are still fine, and yours will be once he is used to it.

Agree about planning something special at soem points of the week.

Tinkerbel6 · 31/01/2008 18:33

funnykc is there any chance that you can reduce you hours to school time to be there for him when he comes out of school ? in the meantime what about sitting down and having a chat about needing to go to work to be able to buy shopping and pay for clothes and treats etc, it might make him understand a bit more than working is part of life and he wont even know you are doing it cause he is at school enjoying himself (eventually)

catinthehat · 31/01/2008 18:43

Skyatnight, thanks for the informative and lengthy comment. Much appreciated.

funnykc · 01/02/2008 12:43

Thanks everyone for your comments - feeling much better now
Work are fairly flexible so I pick up/drop off whenever I can (averages out at once a week)
Got a meeting with DS teacher on Monday morning to see how he is getting on as found out yesterday that he has had two supply teachers since the start of this term!! wondering if this is part of the problem coz he absolutely adores his teacher.

Skyatnight - what stuff do you read coz think I need to change my reading material!!

Thanks again

KC xx

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