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Is six year old manipulating mama??

Roya Dedeaux

A Parent Wrote...


"My 6 year old son tries to turn consequences into pity parties for himself and I’m so torn on what to do.


He’s an only child, but very close with his (younger) cousins. They’re at our home a lot, they’re more like siblings. They typically play together quite well, but…


My son has always had a hard time keeping his hands to himself, sometimes really bad stuff like punching, hair pulling or pinching.


When he gets physical with one of his cousins (usually play related disputes) we take the cousin away from the game and say “we won’t let you hurt your cousin”.


He then proceeds to get really upset, cry, scream, etc.. and then immediately goes into “I need a hug! I need a hug!”.


Now, I understand that he’s upset and is looking for help regulating, but I’m soothing/caring for the “hurt” friend at that point. His consequence is that we have left the game/his general area because he couldn’t keep his hands to himself, and he now wants me to comfort/snuggle him through his consequence (defeating the consequence all together).


While a big part of me wants to sit with him and comfort him, it really feels like manipulation, too. It feels like he doesn’t want to be in trouble and that he wants to make the situation all about him.


I feel like he shouldn’t get to hurt someone and then get a hug.


Any thoughts?"



 In this podcast episode, I break down the divisive language this parent is using to talk about her son - and discuss what they can do differently for less hitting and kicking! Welcome to Season 2 episode 3 of the Recreate Parenting Podcast.


Six year old manipulating mama?

Rather watch the video? Here you go!

 

Resources I mention during this episode:

 

The Recreative Online Art Group (formerly known as the Play with Purpose group)

use code BecauseILikeYou for a free month


Connect with Courage Parenting Course (10 week online course)


Transcript Coming Soon!



Roya Dedeaux, LMFT

Roya Dedeaux LMFT

Roya Dedeaux is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a focus on using creative tools like art, writing, and recreation as a way to help teens and their families who don't quite fit the mold.


Roya’s first book, Connect with Courage: practical ways to release fear and find joy in the places your kids take you is the result of her background in Recreation and Leisure Studies and Marriage and Family Therapy and is the base of her Connect with Courage Parenting Course


She loves running her private practice, creating art prompts for her
two online art groups, and running games and challenges in the free Recreate Parenting Facebook community! When she's not doing that, she loves to make messes with her three wild & wonderful kids where they live and play hard in Southern California.

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A Parent Wrote... "I have a feisty 5 year old little daughter . She has always been somewhat of handful lol she’s very sassy , a little hardheaded and really blunt & nonchalant about mostly everything. We have rules in my house that I reiterate daily (literally) I’m big on manners so I expect yes ma’am , no ma’am , please , thank you , excuse me etc. I expect for her to do what I ask without a lot of huffing and puffing (essentially I don’t ask her to do much) small things like keep her toys tidy , clean up messes she makes , take care of her hair her teeth (I do this for her but she hates it and I constantly explain to her hygiene is important ) I expect her to respect others , to not be a bully , be kind use kind words and overall you know just try and be a good person. We have these conversations DAILY cause I want to instill these things in her. My daughter confuses me because she does things like this: last night she got into my phone and took over a 100 pictures with her middle finger up and her tongue out thinking she was cute. This morning I asked her: I said why did you take these photos she said “idk” I said well are we allowed to be doing these kind of things she said “no” I asked her if she knew it was wrong and she said “yes”. Even though I preach these things to her she STILL does these behaviors and she verbalizes that it is wrong but seems as though she does not care. I’m at a loss here. People will think my kid has no home training when In actuality she does she just does not care or acts like she doesn’t idk. What should I do." In this podcast episode, I try very hard to have compassion........but honestly? Mama, this one is on you. Let's talk about NOT talking! Welcome to Season 2 episode 2 of the Recreate Parenting Podcast. Feisty Five Year Old
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