I'm at my wits' end with my 6yo

[Willis Jackson]

He just let a complete stranger into the house while I was in the shower.

He's worse than an 18mo old. He's just as reckless, but smarter, stronger, and more defiant. So, so, soooo defiant. He's going to burn the house down.

I fucking HATE age 6. Hate hate hate.

[Willis Jackson]

"They were knocking! It's not dangerous! Kids are allowed to open doors! THEY ARE! It is NOT a grown up job! YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME."

It's like, if he wants to get himself killed, whatever. Natural selection. But he's not taking the rest of us down. That's honestly my thought process at this point.

[jeaniebueller]

Let's drink to that. My 6 year old made our peaceful Father's Day state park visit into a disaster. I hear you. This age is so much harder than 3-4 IMO.

[Brie]

Dude, what kind of adult would enter a house where a 6 year old answers the door?

Wait. Don't answer that.

OMG. I'm so sorry.

[Willis Jackson]

Jun 23, 2015 10:28:33 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

OMG

Was it a repair guy or something?

It was, thank god. He was supposed to call before coming but didn't so I was in the shower when he showed up.

[Willis Jackson]

Jun 23, 2015 10:34:55 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

I'm so sorry. Do you have an alarm system? I'd be tempted to get one and have it set so it goes off when doors/windows are opened. Maybe the LOUDNOISES will scare him enough so he doesn't do it, plus you'd be immediately alerted to it?

We need to do this. For sure.

[t]

Ugh, I'm sorry. I would lose it. I barely have patience for my almost 3 year old.

[ijack]

What was his consequence? Because with something like that he needs to be scared shitless so he doesn't do it again :/

[Willis Jackson]

Just so you don't think he doesn't know any better, he went to a week long camp called Safety Town all about this shit, and regularly recites the stuff he learned. He just has no self control.

[pinkdutchtulips]

6 sucks ! I've been dealing w dd's super defiant behavior since 5

[Willis Jackson]

Jun 23, 2015 10:38:58 GMT -5 ijack said:

What was his consequence? Because with something like that he needs to be scared shitless so he doesn't do it again :/

I sent him to his room. He was pissed.

I don't know how to scare him w/o it being a staged kidnapping or something. I didn't want to villainize the guy who was about to spend an hour in our basement. We have the Berenstein Bears strangers book. I think we need to read that again.

[pinkdutchtulips]

Jun 23, 2015 10:38:58 GMT -5 ijack said:

What was his consequence? Because with something like that he needs to be scared shitless so he doesn't do it again :/

my nearly 6 year old started to dart across the street after ignoring my request for her to wait for me ... we ( her dcp and I) yelled STOP !! as a car came around the corner nearly hitting her ! The iPad went away and th next day she damn near did the same thing ! Dart across the street w/o waiting for me, w/o looking ... only this time I caught her ...

Consequences mean zip to her ... frustrating and maddening at the same time

[anna7602]

Oh shit, I'm sorry! Do you have a dead bolt? Or can you add one that can only be opened from the inside with a key and then keep that key on a hook way above his level?

Or can you just exile your son and only allow him back when he's 11 or 12?

[holly116]

Jun 23, 2015 10:38:12 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

Jun 23, 2015 10:34:55 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

I'm so sorry. Do you have an alarm system? I'd be tempted to get one and have it set so it goes off when doors/windows are opened. Maybe the LOUDNOISES will scare him enough so he doesn't do it, plus you'd be immediately alerted to it?

We need to do this. For sure.

Simply safe has been great for us. Plus, hotel locks at the top of all external doors. Sorry, friend. My youngest is by far my easiest too.

Attachments:

[lynn07]

Blech. My 5.5 year old (6 in Oct), has been pretty terrible lately, too. He has always been the sweetest, easiest kid, but suddenly the 4 year old seems to be the sane one instead. DS1 has started talking back, being defiant and super emotional, purposely bugging his brother and us. I'm over it already. Solidarity, and all that.

[anna7602]

Also, I am not above scaring the crap out of DD. I may have mentioned strangers who come in and kill everyone if she ever buzzes anyone into our building without asking who it is over the intercom AND making sure with an adult if it's okay to buzz them in.

[Brie]

I also think you should contact the repair company (assuming he was not an independent contractor) and say something.

Because kid aside, a fucking adult should know better than to enter a house that appears to be staffed by a 6 year old alone.

[Brie]

Jun 23, 2015 10:52:45 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Also, I am not above scaring the crap out of DD. I may have mentioned strangers who come in and kill everyone if she ever buzzes anyone into our building without asking who it is over the intercom AND making sure with an adult if it's okay to buzz them in.

This, too.

C now repeats "CARS HURT ME" when we walk in parking lots.  Buuuut he also doesn't run off like a wild man in them anymore, so I don't care if he's scared.  A little fear of certain things is healthy, IMO.

[Deleted]

Damn, I'm sorry.

[curbsideprophet]

That sucks, I'm sorry.

I am just going to ignore the part about 5-6 being worse than 3-4.

[ringstrue]

Ugh in sorry. This is my reminder to scare the crap out of DD about cars and strangers.

[Willis Jackson]

Does anyone remember being a teenager?

IT NEVER GETS EASIER. lol.

[hopecounts]

Is he generally more impulsive then most kids his age?
How is his attention at school? any issues there or is this strictly an at home issue?

[Mushe]

Oh my god, I'd have a heart attack!

[Willis Jackson]

Jun 23, 2015 11:12:28 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Is he generally more impulsive then most kids his age?
How is his attention at school? any issues there or is this strictly an at home issue?

No. Many of my mom friends have the same complaints. Our 6 year olds just don't GAF.

He did really well at school school last year. No behavioral issues at all.

[holly116]

Jun 23, 2015 11:11:22 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

Does anyone remember being a teenager?

IT NEVER GETS EASIER. lol.

Hey, just let me hang on to my dream that I'll get a break when I send them all to school in a few years lol. Passes lunchtime wine....

[Queen Mamadala]

Oh wow. I'm sorry. (((hugs))) And here I was hoping it will be better when my son is 6. He is so trying right now. He can be so defiant and ornery. He has some good moments, but I feel awful that I don't like him a good chunk of the time.

[Brie]

Jun 23, 2015 11:17:41 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Jun 23, 2015 10:53:10 GMT -5 Brie said:

I also think you should contact the repair company (assuming he was not an independent contractor) and say something.

Because kid aside, a fucking adult should know better than to enter a house that appears to be staffed by a 6 year old alone.

Really? I mean, I don't disagree that he should have waited but as the company I think I'd be like, "Excuse me? You were the one responsible for your child."

And omg 6 cannot be worse than 4 can it?! 

I mean, I wouldn't call and raise hell or anything, but I would want to call and be like, "hey, you should probably remind your techs that they should maybe tell the kid to go get their mom/dad before you go in the house."

If nothing else it's a liability issue.  Kid alone with a stranger opens your business up to all sorts of accusations.

[Queen Mamadala]

Jun 23, 2015 11:17:41 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Jun 23, 2015 10:53:10 GMT -5 Brie said:

I also think you should contact the repair company (assuming he was not an independent contractor) and say something.

Because kid aside, a fucking adult should know better than to enter a house that appears to be staffed by a 6 year old alone.

Really? I mean, I don't disagree that he should have waited but as the company I think I'd be like, "Excuse me? You were the one responsible for your child."

And omg 6 cannot be worse than 4 can it?! 

I haaated 3 with my son. It was so awful. I really, really disliked 4. He was still difficult, and then I told myself that 5 would be better, 'cause it has to get better, right? And while better than previous years, he's still contrary and difficult and has me hoping that 6 will be a much bigger improvement. Ugh.

[sacattack]

I'm glad to hear my son isn't the only one who goes off on a rant when I correct him. This makes me the most crazy. My son tends to get crazy in the moment and I have found out if I let him know I'm mad in the moment and then talk in more detail about it later. Bedtime usually works best after we have read stories and are just chatting about our day.