DH and I just picked up DS from nursery with his little friend (both 4). DS was horrible all the way back because we were helping friend up the hill on his scooter. We weren't allowed to help him, he had to win, he had to be in front, basically being really over-competitive. Lots of bad tempered wailing. On the home straight he scooted up past him and basically pushed him over on his scooter. Coming up the pathway to the house he wrestled him to the ground to try and get to the front door first. Then once inside he, I can think of no other way to say it, attacked him and pushed him to the ground again. All because he wanted to win.
I am so horrified.
I took him upstairs and with him on my knee told him that he was my lovely boy and I was so sad he had been so angry and hurtful to his friend. I have no idea what words I should have used, but I definitely tried to emphasise that the behaviour was bad not him. I left him on his own for a minute or so while i sorted out the friend downstairs and then went back up to talk to him. He acknowledged what he did was wrong but did not want to apologise. Pretty unrepentant really. He only agreed to apologise when he realised he was going to have to stay in his room otherwise. BUt I don't really know why I pushed for an apology since he clearly didn't mean it. He did seem very upset though.
What should I do? I feel like this is something I need to nip in the bud but I feel so ineffectual. I'm ashamed to say I really felt like smacking him - not that I ever would - but it was such horrible behaviour.