Kid's bad behaviour in run up to Christmas

[middleclassdystopia]

Every year the build up to Christmas, whilst fun and exciting, turns my kids into a nightmare.

Normally they are pretty well behaved but I think the tiredness, school and nursery Xhristmas activities which start so early and a long build up of excitement means they are wired to the hilt.

I am also pregnant and lose my temper quicker. At the moment this is making for a shouty household . My ds(8) inparticular is being cheeky and going in foul moods. I am ashamed but I called him 'vile' yesterday, I did apologise of course I didn't mean it but still.

Him and my dd bicker constantly. Does anyone else find this in the run up to Christmas? Any tips? I don't want to be horrible shouty mum.

Hi OP,
Feel your pain. The thing that works for me during 'bad behaviour' times is for me to lower my expectations of all:
Of myself in terms of not being able to manage home cooked from scratch meals every day, hot chocolate after school ( just like the adverts!), needing to take time out for myself etc etc.
Lower expectations of the kids meaning not expecting to opt for my perception of what lovely pre xmas time is (ds still prefers xbox to watching cartoon with me even though it is before xmas) and generally give them time and space to chill out a bit.
Good luck!

We do a 'Naughty & Nice' chart in December to help Santa out. If they're good they get a star on the 'nice' side and if they're horrible one goes on the 'naughty' side. Obviously we ensure they get more stars on the good side so it's fairly easy to get good stars and lower expectations helps with this! The girls love it and are already pestering me to put up this year's. I'm not sure if it's good parenting or not but it works in our house. The DDs are 6 & 7 now and this will be our third year of Santa's chart.

Hi i've started a chart. Crosses for bad behaviour. Three crosses is a sad face and mild punishment. No crosses is a happy face.

It worked yesterday so we'll see.

Yes about lowering expectations, especially as i'm pregnant! A bit more tele and fish fingers won't kill them i'm sure!