So, I've been watching another little boy who's 4 y.o., a couple of times in the last few weeks because his mom just had another baby. My son (3) LOVES playing with him. But when they get together it is insanity. My son is usually pretty mellow... well, loud and talkative, but listens pretty well. But when they get together it is just screaming, wrestling, jumping, all listening goes out the window. I hesitate to set my foot down too much, but when I do, the other little boy listens pretty well but mine does NOT. I try to calm him down, give him some time outs to get him to focus, but he will just scream at me, kick, hit me, and scream that he wants to play. He does NOT do this when we're alone.
I try to empathize with him and let him get his fun out but it is just not possible sometimes. Yesterday he and the other boy RAN OFF towards the parking lot. When I yelled at them to STOP as I was running after them, the other boy did, but DS didn't, and then I had a mild panic attack and shouted at him in the parking lot that he scared mommy and to never, NEVER run into the parking lot. He is just... it's like he's a different kid when this little boy is over.
His family is moving soon so they won't be around much. But in the meantime, I do want to help my friend out with her son and DS does enjoy playing with him too. But... how can I get DS to calm down and listen a LITTLE? I try telling him we can't play together unless he calms down but we sort of have to be together regardless right now. We're doing this for my friend so she can have a restful babymoon and NOT merely so DS can have playdates.
What are REALISTIC expectations for me to have? How do I enforce consequences? I know he's just REALLY REALLY excited and happy to have his friend over, but it's ridiculous how DS just ignores me completely or else even lashes out at me (which he never does normally) just because he has a friend over.
I try to empathize with him and let him get his fun out but it is just not possible sometimes. Yesterday he and the other boy RAN OFF towards the parking lot. When I yelled at them to STOP as I was running after them, the other boy did, but DS didn't, and then I had a mild panic attack and shouted at him in the parking lot that he scared mommy and to never, NEVER run into the parking lot. He is just... it's like he's a different kid when this little boy is over.
His family is moving soon so they won't be around much. But in the meantime, I do want to help my friend out with her son and DS does enjoy playing with him too. But... how can I get DS to calm down and listen a LITTLE? I try telling him we can't play together unless he calms down but we sort of have to be together regardless right now. We're doing this for my friend so she can have a restful babymoon and NOT merely so DS can have playdates.
What are REALISTIC expectations for me to have? How do I enforce consequences? I know he's just REALLY REALLY excited and happy to have his friend over, but it's ridiculous how DS just ignores me completely or else even lashes out at me (which he never does normally) just because he has a friend over.
