"I love you, but I also hate you" Happy V Day from my 4.5yo

[Ninetyninepercent]

This is what my DS said to me while having a snuggle in bed this morning. So matter of factly, then proceeded to explain that he hated me when I was "annoying" him.

I've had the old "I hate you" from the DC before said in the heat of the moment mid-tantrum, but never in such a calm fashion.

I should just ignore it, shouldn't I? I did mention that saying you hate someone can hurt others feelings. But apart from that I should ignore. he's only 4.5 after all...or should I try and tease out of him what's behind it? (He hasn't been listening/ie not doing as he's told quite recently, so has been on the naughty step/had stuff taken away because of it).

When he handed me a Valentine's Day card this morning I must admist I didn't feel quite so aaaahhhh as I would usually do and did look for whether it alluded to my general irritating habits and his hatred of them!!!!

Black and white and no shades of grey with younger children, your DS is being candid but wouldn't know that a word like 'hate' is pretty powerful to describe being irked when Mum lays down the law.

Maybe stretch his vocabulary a bit with some new expressions?

He still gave you a card this morning

Good idea! I shall start dropping in words to illustrate the nuances of hatred!

Does the scratchness of your woolly hat displease you? Are you irked by your brother grabbing your light sabre? Yes, I detest getting up in the morning too!

Thanks....he usually is such a loving and lovely little fellow that it was so out of the blue!

Bet you'll notice yourself using it more than you thought. It's the matter of fact way they utter something crushing.