Jennifer,
Thanks for your kind words. I am embarassed to say I usually do not handle it so well. Sometimes I stay calm for two hours and then just explode myself...every time I do that, I feel good for about five minutes..then I am depressed for days. I have decided that I will stay calm no matter what going forward. It is not easy...
Smallworld,
He goes to after school care until 6. He plays there so usually when we get home he knows he has to do homework first (while I cook dinner and then after dinner) Sometimes if he only has one page to do, and he wants to play with friends, I allow him.
WHAT DUMBFOUNDS ME IS...why some days does he understand and abide by what he already knows are the rules and other days just flips out like this is the first time he has ever heard of them??!!
I guess that is part of being a difficult child.
I am always open to "negociating with him" like the Explosive Child discussing. He will say he is tired of doing homework and needs a 15 minute break. I agree, he agrees, I set the timer..he plays...timer goes off and he starts the paper again. WIN WIN! He will do this 50 times no problem then BAM he refuses to do homework, he refuses to discuss it, he refuses and just wants to play the video game (or what ever)....
Frustrating for EVERYONE