Just picked up ds2 from nursery. This is how the conversation went once we got in through the door...
ds2: I'm very hungry, Mummy.
me: I'll make you some lunch - didn't you have a snack?
ds2: yes we had carrots and breadsticks but the carrots were not cooked.
me: oh, Ok, I know you don't like raw carrots. Tell you what, I've got some smoked salmon [big favourite] - shall I make you a smoked salmon sandwich? [I am getting the stuff out of the fridge as I am saying this]
ds2: Can I have something to start me off with?
me: do you want a piece of cucumber?
ds2: I want something to start me off with, I want something to start me off with...
me: I'm just making the sandwich - do you want a piece of cucumber?
ds2: [starting to wail] I want something NOOOOOOW...
me: [sandwich is nearly made] OK, here's some cucumber..
ds2: [screaming now, holding on to my legs] I WANT SOMETHING NOOOOW...I NOT LIKE YOU....GO AWAY MUMMY...I NOT WANT A SANDWICH......
By now, a drink, a sandwich, chunks of cucumber and cut up apple are on the table...he is screaming for England (and maybe Wales as well). I have walked away and left him - he is still at it.
OK, I don't give in to tantrums. I ignore, as instructed. When I say no I mean no. I pick my battles - I am not unreasonable (mostly...) I watch Tanya and SuperNanny..I no longer feel smug at the bahaviour of some of the children on those shows...
So why is he still having these major melt-downs at 4 and a half. He starts school in September, and he's still having at least a tantrum a day (yesterday's was because the picture he was drawing went wrong...)
I don't know if anyone has any miraculous parenting tips I can try - I just needed to rant a bit - it is so frustrating! And I know you're not supposed to compare your children but ds1 at this age was so different - I really enjoyed age 4 (before he went to school and got all opinionated) - he was like my little friend and such good company. Ds2 is more like having a rabid rotweiller around the house...