Hi, have found ds very trying on holiday (short break in France) and generally of late. He has become much more compulsive, obsessive, argumentative, emotional and generally unreasonable.
Examples: Go into shop with dd and ds to buy some clothes for dd. Nice independent shop, empty, most stuff indestructible, pleasant owner. Ds obsessively rearranging stuff, then on the floor, having found the metal flaps that hide the electrical sockets, starts repeatedly flipping them open and closed. Woman behind counter looks nervous, but I can't stop him. If I drag him off one, he goes straight to the next. And SCREAMS and sobs if I try to stop him, which I do find mortifying.
At the supermarket, which he used to enjoy and was fine at, he now throws everything into my trolley. On holiday he became obsessed with fiddling with a grandfather clock in the hall and hiding small items in boxes. Also screamed if I tried to prevent him. I spent too much time physically dragging him away from places while he screamed. I just couldn't take my eyes off him. It was very wearing.
He also contradicts everything I say and repeatedly asks questions without waiting for an answer (ie will repeat six times until I scream at him).
He is far, far less distractible, cooperative and amenable than he used to be. He is much worse when even vaguely hungry or thirsty, though will never admit to hunger or thirst.
It is driving us mad tbh, and I think it's making dh quite depressed. We both hate yelling at him, but are finding it very hard to make him take any notice of us otherwise.
Normal sanctions (threats of consequences etc) don't work. And he seems really controlled by his obsessions with fidding and grabbing rather than able to control them. Have got an appointment with his paed in Sept, but am absolutely dreading his going back to school. Help!