Hi -- I'm Julie and my difficult child is Sam -- 4 now, but will be 5 in March. We recently visited a therapist who diagnosed Sam with a mood disorder -- not extremely helpful, but we at least ruled out ADHD/ADD. We just did a sleep study earlier this week -- don't know the results yet. We're hoping to avoid medication -- or at least use it as a last resort.
Sam melts down at the drop of a hat -- when he hears "no" or is frustrated especially. Crying, yelling, screaming, hitting, kicking, throwing things -- or any combination. It's been a problem for the past 1 1/2 yrs., but for a long time I thought that's what being a 3 or 4 yr old was about. Of course my 8 yr old daughter is easy child -- but again, I figured the difference in behavior was related to birth order, sex, etc.
I'm reading The Explosive Child -- finding my head nodding in agreement when he describes these challenging children. I'm just having a hard time implementing Plan B... I usually try it too late -- he's already in a meltdown.
I'm at a loss what to do when he meltdowns -- husband has luck tickling him, and his preschool teacher has found gentle massage helps. My problem is that **I** get so frustrated that the last thing I want to do is be physically close to him...
He has a meltdown at preschool (he goes 2 1 /2 days a week) almost every day; has tried running out of the building. While the director & his teacher have been pretty flexible and understanding, I worry that any day now they'll ask him to leave the school.
Another big worry --- kindergarten is looming in the fall. I so want his first real school experience to be positive, but worry that we won't be able to get is tantrums under good control before he starts... and that could lead to a negative spiral, depending upon his teacher.
husband is supportive, but since I'm a stay at home mom, I bear the brunt of the tantrums. No one else I've met has any behaviors like this with their kids, and most of my family seems to think that a spanking/more discipline would solve everything.
I'm glad I found this site... it's comforting in a way knowing that there are other families dealing with things like this... but scary at the same time.
I'm just SO tired -- emotionally & physically. I don't know where I'm going to find the energy to keep going -- maybe a good night's sleep will help.
Thanks for being here...
Sam melts down at the drop of a hat -- when he hears "no" or is frustrated especially. Crying, yelling, screaming, hitting, kicking, throwing things -- or any combination. It's been a problem for the past 1 1/2 yrs., but for a long time I thought that's what being a 3 or 4 yr old was about. Of course my 8 yr old daughter is easy child -- but again, I figured the difference in behavior was related to birth order, sex, etc.
I'm reading The Explosive Child -- finding my head nodding in agreement when he describes these challenging children. I'm just having a hard time implementing Plan B... I usually try it too late -- he's already in a meltdown.
I'm at a loss what to do when he meltdowns -- husband has luck tickling him, and his preschool teacher has found gentle massage helps. My problem is that **I** get so frustrated that the last thing I want to do is be physically close to him...
He has a meltdown at preschool (he goes 2 1 /2 days a week) almost every day; has tried running out of the building. While the director & his teacher have been pretty flexible and understanding, I worry that any day now they'll ask him to leave the school.
Another big worry --- kindergarten is looming in the fall. I so want his first real school experience to be positive, but worry that we won't be able to get is tantrums under good control before he starts... and that could lead to a negative spiral, depending upon his teacher.
husband is supportive, but since I'm a stay at home mom, I bear the brunt of the tantrums. No one else I've met has any behaviors like this with their kids, and most of my family seems to think that a spanking/more discipline would solve everything.
I'm glad I found this site... it's comforting in a way knowing that there are other families dealing with things like this... but scary at the same time.
I'm just SO tired -- emotionally & physically. I don't know where I'm going to find the energy to keep going -- maybe a good night's sleep will help.
Thanks for being here...