5 ry old DS always wants entertaining and baby is due in a few months! So tired.

[Scruffyhound]

What does everyone else do with their kids? I have a 5yr old DS and he is great but is not good at entertaining his self he always wants me but sometimes he can keep him slef entertained for an hour with games then he wants something else then gets bored then something else. I do painting, reading, drawing, playing board games with him. I let him play his PS2 games on his own as I try to get housework done then. I have tried to watch a film with him he does sometimes but then gets bored we watch all sorts of stuff. Im getting a bit fed up now as baby is due April 8th and I feel drained now and will not have time when baby comes along. I love my DS and spending time with him my DP is ok with him but not great as its his not his son and has not experiance of kids I worry sometimes as I think they could do more to bond. My son has a cheekey mouth on him and he says stuff like oh shut up mummy but says it laughing or smiling so i say no you shut up and we end up being silly. I dont know if Im doing this right either! Do people tell their kids off for saying stuff like that? Dont know if Im doing it right or not because then he says it to DP and a lot oh shut up and I say hey thats enough of that now. DP is not sure what to say sometimes.

Is he at school yet? Try lots of play dates and fresh air to wear him out. If you take him to a soft play place with he make friends and play with other kids, giving you some peace?

I do think SHUT UP is rude but I do say it sometimes, try BE QUIET instead. Does he like Lego, DS1 would be happy for ages building stuff, have a trawl round charity shops, there is usually loads up for grabs.

Regarding bonding, footy is always a good one, there must be a local club near you that has kids training, they could go together and he could watch.

DS2 is 8 and talks none stop, I use the oven timer, "no more talking until the timer beeps them you get a sweet!

I think that it's worrying that your new partner hasn't made that much effort to bond with your son.

As for the shut up thing . . . I never say it in a playful way as that is teaching them that it is funny which it won't be when it gets them into trouble at school or it upsets other children. Occassionally I say it in a temper when they are doing my head in but I try really hard not to say it as it's nt something I want repeated.

I think your son is going to learn the hard way a bit that he has to entertain himself a bit more once the baby arrives.

Hello there thanks I dont say shut up to my son unless in temper sometimes. Its prob my fault as I say it joking to my DP and he does. So will stop it. He does go to school and we have had no problems there accept he was getting bullied which is now sorted and the older boys are his friends now. I have not been told he has any problems there and he has got certificates for being nice to other children and helping out smaller children. So I think he says it to me and DP. As for DP I think he could make more of an effort and last night said to me without me saying anything I think me and DS should go and do something.They both like wrestling and there are some matches coming up. So he said he would take him there. We were trying to think of other stuff I think I will take him to marital arts classes as well. We have a dog which we walk together. I think when baby comes then yes your right he will just have to get in line. I think DP will do a lot more as well then with both he will have no choice!! Thanks for your input and appreciate it.

I know how hard it is as I have a 2.5yo when my 2nd DC was born. Luckily the older one loves films and cartoons so she would do that a lot but it's not ideal. I felt so guilty all the time but what else are you supposed to do!? I would take the baby to older DC playgroups so older DC would get to run around and get worn out but I didn't always have the energy. To be honest I don't think there is a perfect answer, you just sort of stumble through.