I need some encouragement...

[~LiLaC~]

I don't know what to do with my 4.5yr old. In the last 2 months his behavior has gone so far downhill I am out of ideas for any sort of problem solving or discipline that will work. He is aggressive and just hearing the word no or that he is not getting what he wants sends him completely overboard and his attitude is so negative and awful all of the time. I don't even want to let him play with other kids for fear of what he may say or do. I think it goes beyond behavioral and emotional issues and I will be calling a child psychologist Monday but really I just feel like such a failure as a parent. A year ago people were complimenting me on how polite, well-behaved, and smart he was saying it was obvious I spent a lot of individual time with him and now I am afraid to go out of the house with him because of his atrocious behavior I guess I am just hoping it can be turned around and I can get my sweet boy back. I want to know things are going to get better. Has anyone else been through behavioral issues with a good outcome?
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Lindsey ~ Mumma to J 11/07, C 5/10 & O 10/12
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[satiglenn]

I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this I also have a little boy (almost 5) who went through a rough time there for a minute. He has always been a sweet, caring person, but for a few months, he was also very negative and angry. He would stomp and kick and go jump on his bed and throw the covers and pillow in the floor, kick the wall and scream at the top of his lungs, just because I told him no about something. TOTALLY out of character for him. But I think he was just "growing into" more complex emotions that he really didn't know how to deal with. He seems to be maturing a little more now, and isn't really acting like that so much anymore. We had a lot of little talks about how he must be feeling, and how his behavior made others feel. At first, he acted like he couldn't even hear me when I tried to talk to him about it, but gradually he seemed to kinda "get it." He's still not as easy-going as he used to be, but he's not the holy terror that he had turned into for a while.
I hope this breaks for you soon. I know how hard it can be when the sweet child that you KNOW he really is, is having a hard time coming out. ((((((HUGS)))))
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[Raspberry Tart]

We had a dramatic change like this too.

The problem turned out to be completely resolved by diet. We are 100% organic plant based now and it's a miracle. Miracle.

Ours is a long story and it took us a few months to resolve all the issues, but it sure worked.

I'm not suggesting you go vegan like us, but the ingredients in processed foods, food additives, pesticides etc. are really impacting our children.

It's easy enough to say "i grew up on ____", but the additives these days are harsher and cheaper chemicals than what we grew up with. Things all changed in the 90s and even though we grew up with the same brand of cereal (for example only, I'm not picking on cereal) - what's in it today has a totally different forumla and a lot of it is causing some behavioural type symptoms in kids.
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[Erin]

[tsbaskets777]

Don't have any answers wanted to send you We are having problems with Kylee who just turned 8 and have an appt the end of August with a child psychologist, it is taking us that long to get into see him.
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[mamamo]

First <hugs>

I applaud your desire to seek both short and long term help if it turns out there are underlying issues. I also think diet adjustments are worth trying. Don't let sudden behavior changes dictate your feelings about parenting.

DS2 had some behavioral swings around age 5 as well. His were not as defiant as you are describing. But the self-centered child he became around that age was in stark contrast to the happy-go-lucky, playful child who would do anything to make others laugh that he had been until then. The selfish phase lasted about a year or so and then abated. There's a lot going on at that age. Especially if there are family changes (a move, illness or anticipating a new baby) in the mix, maybe some kids just have a rough adjustment phase and then grow out of it.
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[~LiLaC~]

Thanks everyone. His behavior has improved tremendously now that we are back on schedule and eating our normal foods again. I'm hoping this keeps up as it gives me hope that this mean aggressive behavior may be brought on by triggers and not just be a new personality trait. The only thing still concerning me is that he has had issues not making it to the bathroom in time for bowel movements. It used to be very occasionally but in the last 2 months its gotten worse. We have an appt. with his ped. next week.
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Lindsey ~ Mumma to J 11/07, C 5/10 & O 10/12
~This Little Piggy~ Soft Shoes and Slippers - On Hiatus!
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[oakanwillow]

[Just Nikki]