Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Tips how to deal with my own 5yo's verbal and physical abuse towards me?

15 replies

littlecrystal · 18/06/2013 20:50

After he's gone to sleep, he's left me crying most of the days. Today when I came to collect him from the afterschool club, his first "greeting" was to push me and say "Naughty" (=naughty mummy), repeated every time after I said Hi, How was your day etc. His favorite response to everything is "No" or "Naughty" in a very angry manner. I was not able to talk to him, at all. So I kept quiet until we got home. Then all of a sudden he started asking me to buy him a toy. I said "apologize because you have upset mummy, then behave well so perhaps we can look at it". It followed with another set of "Naughty" and almost trying to kick me.
Calmed down slightly after eating and bath, then when I asked to wait until I get his PJs he started with his endless "Naughty".
When I respond "You do not talk like this" he shouts "No" and does not listen what I say. When I go down to his eye level and ask to look into my eyes, he says endless "No" and deliberately avoids eye contact to no availability.
After his "abuse" (honestly I feel abused) I sent him to bed, he refused to go, I could have left him to hang for longer but I knew he was already tired so I carried him to bed. He protested all the way, refused to lie down, everything was "No" and "Naughty", refused to listen to me, attempted to pass me and leave the room, I did not allow so it got a bit physical, I did not want by resorted to smacking him, which followed by another "No", I smacked him again and told him to keep quiet. I shouted and threatened to smack him again if he does not listen and goes to sleep. I saw that he was very tired by that time so said "just lie down and sleep" this was followed by another "No"s and "Naughty"s and trying to get up instead of lying down. I restrained him physically and he fell asleep within 2 minutes.

This is the biggest nightmare of my life. I dread coming from work and collecting him every day. When he is in the mood, I don't know how to stop him, no amount of reasoning helps and he refuses to engage into conversation. I really don't want to resort to smacking and shouting, but I feel completely cornered and run out of options. I tried positive tactics saying that if you calm down we can have fun, play a game etc, but at that point he is too stressed and just says he does not want it.

I tried ignoring him and just getting on with my own things but found that then he takes advantage of no discipline, for example I could allow him to stay longer in the evening and avoid the fight, but then he will be super tired the next morning and even more angry.
Btw the same is in the mornings. Sometimes he gets up and his first word is "Naugthy" (=mummy, daddy, whoever he sees first) followed with some "No's" to "good morning" "did you have a good night" etc.

There are some signs of ADHD, Asperger's, ODD, but the school is coping with only minor issues so I feel like this is only me who does not cope. I thought of seeking diagnosis but in all honesty I need tips how to cope this resistance at home.

If we manage to avoid the tantrums, I found that the best way to manage is military style regime, i.e. short orders, brief conversations, do not attempt to cuddle to much (often gets too physical), no emotions (from my side). I hate this style but it works the best... until we get into that "No" and "Naughty" mood.

I want to be his friend and I do ask how was the school or if he has any anxieties but he would not talk just be angry and aggressive.

We do have fun time, too, but more often than not it resorts to a tantrum and with every fun there is a tantrum to remember.

I am afraid I will sound like a very bad mum but believe me DS2 is a completely different story, no problems whatsoever and an odd tantrum is fairly easy to manage.

If anyone has any tips how you manage resistance and abusive words, it would be very much appreciated.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 18/06/2013 20:56

Stop smacking for starters.

How old is your son?

valiumredhead · 18/06/2013 21:01

You sound like you ate locked in to battle with him, set clear boundaries and use lots of positive language. Do you explain to him calmly that calling you naughty etc is not on, rather than shouting at him? I know it's hard but from your post out sounds like the pair of you just wind each other up.

valiumredhead · 18/06/2013 21:01

Sorry, lots of typos!

notyummy · 18/06/2013 21:05

Is he literally just saying 'naughty'? How is his speech in general?

It does sound very wearing.

TreeLuLa · 18/06/2013 21:08

It's not at all unusual for children with Aspergers or ASD to manage to hold it together at school but be very difficult at home. A decent SENCO should know this.
Can you ask for help from the school? They should be able to put you in touch with a Family Support Worker.
Sounds really hard - hope you get the help you need.

littlecrystal · 18/06/2013 21:14

Yes literally responding No and Naughty (it could be any other wearing word I guess). He knows it is bad but chooses not to listen to me when I say "stop it" or reason how bad it is. I would say that when he goes into "that" state nothing will stop him and even if I leave him in a room to calm down, he would follow me and continue his "verbal abuse" (as much as 5yo can do it".

His vocabulary is wide and he seems to understand things but his talk is often silly or making no sense or just plain response "no" to everything. He can talk when he chooses to but very often he chooses not to converse in understandable manner. As much as I would love to have conversations with him, he does not like engaging in them.

OP posts:
littlecrystal · 18/06/2013 21:20

TreeLuLa for a long time I thought I am just very bad mother not able to manage him but when DS2 came along I realised it does not have to be this way. The school said he has his moments but they are managing and did not raise particular concerns. The same with afterschool club, occasionally he runs off from the staff or is being rude with the staff or pushes another child, but again they said they are managing with time out.
I thought to myself that if there is any serious problem it will likely to start in Y1 as then serious work starts. I gave myself a "deadline" until mid Y1 to see if we need professional help.

OP posts:
Fairyegg · 18/06/2013 21:22

You Don't sound like a bad mum, just a tired, stressed one :-). My ds went though a phrase Of saying 'yummy' to Everything, it drove me mad! Perhaps having been at school plus club all day he really doesn't want to talk about it? Have you considered using a childminder rather than an after school club? Maybe he's a bit to young for such a long, full on day, at least at a childminders he might be able to relax more so not be so tired. Have you spoken to his teacher about his behaviour? I went in a few times over my ds and it was very helpful. Have you got any Support? Are you getting enough sleep? Sometimes it's not until we start to look after ourselves that everything else falls into place. I Would advise lots and lots of positive phrase, no matter how small The good behaviour. My ds is a bit older than yours now and he is so much better than he was, it will Get better.

notyummy · 18/06/2013 21:30

Yes, as others said, not a bad mum. I would have thought the ignoring and praise for anything positive must be starting place. Also make sure you are starting to organise your concerns so you can seek the correct support in yr 1 as necessary. Would be useful to get some feedback from the school on how they seem him compared to the other range of 4/5 year old boys they deal with, to understand how different his behaviour is.

valiumredhead · 18/06/2013 21:33

A bad mum wouldn't be posting for adviceSmile

willowisp · 18/06/2013 21:49

Sounds very likd my 10 yr old dd.

Just lost everything I wrote, so brief reply...

  1. can you change hrs so less time at after school club ? Or change to kind childminder ?

  2. give him a (nutritious of course!) snack as soon as you see him (maybe those fruit flakes/flapjack or something similar to pep him up as he'll be tired) - does he have tea at club ?

  3. greet him but don't keep on asking questions - I hate being asked questions when I'm tired Smile My Dd is much better if she can mumble along without being crossed examined.

  4. stop expecting so much of him - you've locked horns (as I do), take a deep breath & give him some space.

A bath or quick wash, then in bed for a story & cuddle...but don't force the cuddle, let him come to you on his terms.

littlecrystal · 18/06/2013 22:04

Thanks "willowisp". I am glad I am not alone in this.
I would have thought that he enjoys the afterschool club as there is lots of room to run outside and he often asks me to collect him later, but perhaps he does get too tired.
I do not keep asking questions just plain Hi and How was your day? but when I get greeted with abuse I do want to find out "is everything ok?" "why are you so upset?" (don't get any proper response though)
Will try the snack idea.
He tends to refuse the bed then gets overtired...

Just remembered that he is known to fall out with his peers by saying "I am not listening to you". I am not sure if this is common among 5yo though.

OP posts:
willowisp · 18/06/2013 22:16

But why keep pushing (I know it's difficult but remember he's a small child Smile) for answers ? Just let him be & you'll find it'll burn itself out because it has nowhere to go - imagine you keep going on is fanning his fire, he can't control it, but you should be able to (count to 50 or tell him you've had a lovely day of just let him be).

My dd, in the last few mths, will say sorry for being grumpy when she's calm & in bed...we both say it.

I don't know about your other question, but try little steps & you might find a big difference.

valiumredhead · 19/06/2013 08:45

Pick your times and let him come to you, I used to greet ds with a snack and pretty much leave him alone and not ask questions until he wanted to offer up information.

Unless he has to go to after school club I would look for an alternative as it might be that he gets too tired from it.

Very common for kids of 5 to fall out with each other.

willowisp · 19/06/2013 14:39

I quite like the fact that he says "I'm not listening to you" Grin

New posts on this thread. Refresh page