My 4 year old has A LOT of energy and we need to spend a lot of time outdoors to burn it off. Thats usually fine but this weeks heat has had us indoors a lot and we are all feeling the impact of it.
They have been getting increasingly more "cheeky" over the last few days and really pushing things. Bedtimes have taken at least an hour, constant shouting for things and being up and down. In the day they flit from one activity to another (fine, but they get EVERYTHING out and refuse to put it away), throwing food, putting feet on the table, kicking balls in house, deliberately winding dogs up. I feel like ive been moaning constantly. My partner has been working away so its just me. I also have an almost one year old who is trying to walk and is very wobbly. 4yo is increasingly rough with them, invented a new tickling game which basically means tackling the baby (they laugh but it does get rough and I have to stop it), not letting the baby have any toys (if the baby crawls to something on the other side of the room then they run and grab it and won't share). These are all new things but it has been relentless this last week.
Yesterday they kicked a ball and it hit me in the face. It was an accident. My sister was here and said "oh no, check if mummy is ok" and they refused and wouldn't speak to me, acted like it was my fault and got angry with me over it. They also pushed the baby over yesterday when the baby was in their way. Went out with friends and they wouldn't listen when playing, again being rough and chasing and tackling other children. I ended the play date and we went home. Saw friends when shopping, refused to speak to them and hid behind me.
Tonight before bed the baby was standing leaving against a chair and their sleeping bag was on it. Eldest kept trying to grab the tog which would have knocked baby over. Myself and partner (now home) told them to stop. They didnt and started laughing.
I picked eldest up and lay him on the floor away from baby. I shouted at them and held them down to stop them getting back and returning to what they were doing. I feel awful. I pointed my finger at them and said I was sick of shouting and they never listen. Said ive had enough today and told partner to get them ready for bed.
I got baby ready for bed. I did go in to see eldest before bed and said I hate shouting at them but they have to listen. They were absolutely fine, didnt even mention shouting, said they'd listen better etc but I honestly feel horrendous.