end of my tether

[stifflegs]

Feeling so very down and frustrated at my parenting with my children especially at this time of day. Everyday between 4 -7 are just dreadful, constant whinging, demands until i snap and shout. Feel so disappointed in myself and sad for my children. I have two DD'S who are 2 (nearly 3) and 5 I'm in a rut and need to change my behaviour and therefore they will change theirs. Ah, sorry this is a ramble just feel so terribly down about shouting at my children.

Could you give us a bit more detail on your day? Is your younger Dd still having a nap? Is your older dd at school?

How are you? Is there anything else in your life bringing you down? Are you eating well and looking after yourself?

My ds also seems to become hard work at this time especially if he's not had a nap. I really try and read the signs that might be causing this behaviour as feel there must be a reason for it rather than him just being like that .

I have found it's often hunger with ds and he's lovely again once he's fed. So I make sure dinner is cooking or ready by 5 so even if he doesn't want it straight away as soon as he asks for it or shows signs of hunger I can get it straight away. He doesn't do waiting! I found this really helped . I also make sure he has a snack at 3-3.30 which I ve found avoids him having strops at 4-4.30 wanting food which either isn't ready or happen when I say it's too early for dinner .

I also found he's tired often too. When does your child nap? Again I try and avoid whining before it happens by either giving him an early night on days like that or allowing him to do a down time activity like a little TV. Reading a book or play dough which again I found worked really well.

They're probably sensing that you are getting a bit stressed about that time. I used to be like that, then I changed dinner time and did everything a bit earlier than normal. So it was all done, and we could sit together before bed.

Maybe change routine: little activity before dinner, maybe earlier dinner, Then a bit of wind down before telling them it's bed time soon, read a bed time book. Make it fun for you and the kids. Plan an activity to do around 3 to overlap 4pm.
Be as stubborn as you can if they whine about wanting something etc. If a tantrum is thrown, ignore it.
If I notice my son is starting to get cheeky or stressing about little things, I usually try and get food down him before he eventually falls asleep because it's hunger or tiredness. Or he falls asleep before I've dished dinner! Then if he's awake again at bed time (after I've woken him for dinner), I let him play for a bit after a book but only in his bed room, on his bed.

Are you coming back OP?