New habit driving me MAD!!!!

[BellyBelly]

Marisa is 6 next week and she's doing this new thing which is REALLY driving me bonkers. Whenever she can't have something or something doesn't go her way (well not all the time but alot) she resorts to crying. Its driving me mad. Is this typical at this age? Please tell me I am not alone!!! How long does this last for? I try to talk to her sensibly about it but she's not very good at communicating with me yet, part of her personality I think seems to shy away from anything emotional or related to her own feelings

[Trillian]

I think it is a girl thing to an extent Kelly, and if you ask my Dh it's part of the 'manipulative and cunning way that women are born with' (we had this discussion too recently - not that Erin cries, but she sulks like a champion - if it was an olympic sport she would take home the gold). She isn't normally an attention seeking child is she? Do you think she has seen this sort of behaviour in others, saw that it worked for them and is copying it herself?

[sushee]

DD has always been a cryer. She started at around 7 and has gone on since. But I am an 'ignorer' in that they minute she starts crying, and if it's something I need to stand my ground on, I start withdrawing sympathy and instead remind her that we can't have a proper conversation if she's crying. Not that it's always stopped her, but it's kept me sane, and sometimes it actually works. I suspect that she has received gratification from others (her dad, my parents, her friends) from crying, so the inclination to cry at the drop of a hat has remained.

Sorry hun I wish I had better news for you.

[*Efjay*]

This is Glenn, apparently he has a lot of femal qualities at the moment LOL has a thing for wearing bobby pins in his hair, likes to tie his hair up with my hair bands (very difficult seems he has short hair). But he is also a drop of the hat crier. Cries about E V E R Y T H I N G, not just crys either its usually one of those high ptched squeals followed by howelling. He gets sent to his room now. Its beyond the joke some days. Look at him at the wrong moment & bam WHAHHHHHHHH!

So can't help you on if its a girl thing or an age thing but can relate thats for sure!

[kirsty_lee]

a friend of my next door neighbour's son is like this! he's 5.. and wow can this kid turn on the waterworks! at the drop of the hat.. but it's not like cute it's HORRIBLE .. like but muuuuuuuummmm i waannnnnntttttt itttttt... and will just keep going until he gets his own way.. in a span of 2 hours this kid did it like 10 times! and his mother gives in EVERY time... im like jesus christ.. everytime he does it i cringe..its such a horrible sound lol...

[Trillian]

Kel, even though she doesn't communicate well with you, does she understand the repercussions for her in doing it? ie that just because she turns on the tears, you still aren't going to give her what she wants? It might be easier to tackle one thing at a time and deal with not giving in to her now, and discussing the 'why are you doing it' with her later? Can you ask her about it when she isn't doing it to ask her why?

[Rouge]

Paris does a similar thing depending on tiredness and mood. I just let her cry till she's done, hold her if she wants and then she can tell me why she was upset and if we can or can't fix it, and if we can't why not. For Paris its always as a result of frustration. Just don't give in, cuddle her when she's ready and offer to talk about it. It can be frustrating and confusing but I actually prefer it to tantrums LOL!