We are that family.

[Duckiedee]

Great feedback. Thanks! Of course we are at DHS and he wants to see Winnie the Pooh! Lol. But he also wants to fight Darth.

I've already been smacked and demanded Now! Rides now! They are not open yet. Sigh. My word.

 

[loves to dive]

Great feedback. Thanks! Of course we are at DHS and he wants to see Winnie the Pooh! Lol. But he also wants to fight Darth.

I've already been smacked and demanded Now! Rides now! They are not open yet. Sigh. My word.

Bless your heart, there are days we just wonder why the heck we thought we wanted to have this kid and then there are days (mostly when we are watching them sleep) when we know exactly why we did. I'd like to tell you it gets better but boys can be very moody, mine is 35 and we still have those days. I hope he didn't get away with the smack, that would be an "o.k. we are going back to the room right now bud" with me and we would. Hope Mom and Dad are at least getting a refreshing adult beverage along the way and sis is getting some good times as well.

 

[Jhaberlein]

With my youngest stepson, time outs, punishments, loss of xyz don't really do much to help correct his behaviors. Instead he responds to positive rewards. We came up with a little card that had our expected behaviors and gave him stickers when he was doing them without us asking. A certain number of stickers equaled a reward (ice cream, light saber, etc).

 

[joplinmouse]

Sadly we've had to pretty much hit pause during the middle of several vacations and take a day of doing nothing but sitting in the hotel. It usually works if he's in one of those won't snap out of it bad attitudes. I know how frustrating it can be when your so excited to be somewhere, especially somewhere for the kids!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I wonder if you could adjust your days to more closely resemble his normal routine.

Our first trip with kids, we brought along my 7 year old niece and almost 2 year old dd. the first day, I tried to beat the crowds at hit rope drop, and we were all so miserably tired. There were meltdowns and cranky people. After that, we stick to her normal sleep/wake cycle on vcation. We have tons of fun and it is just so.much more relaxed.

 

[Julylady]

I'm sorry to hear of this, OP and I hope your little guy is doing better. Ours are older now, but here is what worked for us. When the first outrage happens, take him aside and clearly describe how what he is doing is unacceptable. Then describe what acceptable behavior looks like. Explain that he gets one more chance and if he can't act reasonably, you (or Dad) are taking him back to the resort. When he acts up again (and he probably will the first time) calmly explain that you and he need to return to the room until he can behave appropriately. Don't yell, don't threaten, don't tell him he is ruining things for the rest of you. Take a very quiet ride home. Well, at least you be quiet. He might be yelling, crying, or screaming. (You will likely be "that family" on the bus.)

When you get back to the room, make it as boring for him as possible. No TV, no ipads, no books. He just sits on the bed. Don't talk to him or interact with him in any way. Don't make this time pleasant for him. I had to do this very same thing with my niece. After about 20 minutes she stopped crying and just laid quietly on the bed and then fell asleep. She slept for about 2 hours. When she woke up, we talked about what she was doing that was unacceptable and once again, outlined what acceptable behavior looked like. I asked her if she felt ready to join the rest of the family. She said Yes and off we went. She was testing our limits and she learned what they were. We also made sure she was rewarded by good behavior by getting to choose the next place we went or picking a snack to share. We had a couple of moments after that, but did not need to return to the room again.

 

[Dinohood]

lol i'm sorry but you need to mom up now. Ask him what he wants to do is good but, better yet show him what parks you are going to so he knows what is there and what he can do. Has for the hitting nope you tell him we do not it if he hits again he will get a timeout. The demand thing is a no go you tell him we use our words and ask nicely you never demand daddy to do this and that you ask him.

 

[wilkeliza]

OP saw this pop back up and hoping things have gotten easier! I think you were doing the best you could when this seems to have come out of nowhere.

 

[Nancyg56]

I just saw this, I am so sorry!

We all have been there, and it is not fun. Last August we took the little family down the street, Mom and two little girls. It was not a disaster, but it was not great. The kids are good kids, well mannered and behaved. Mom not so much. Not bad, just not at all disciplined, and on a Disney Vacacion, you get your carcass out of bed. You let the kids go to the parks if they are "tired" Translation....they want to play on iPads and you want to nap and feel guilty you are not taking care of the kids. You make them sit and eat and stop getting played. Of course they get bored.....who cares? Sit and use your manners.

It will get better, once he figures out that he is not in charge, and that you mean business. Vacations sound like so much fun ahead of time, and they are, but in reality, they require so much more cooperation from the entire family than a 5 YO understands. It is not all characters when you want them, Mickey bars on demand, and walk on rides. I would set an expectation first thing in the morning, explain the consequences in the event he tests the boundary and then follow through. The sooner he is back on "home" rules the better for him and for the rest of you. I bet that you and your DH have been too nice and understanding, and I bet you are not at home.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Great feedback. Thanks! Of course we are at DHS and he wants to see Winnie the Pooh! Lol. But he also wants to fight Darth.

I've already been smacked and demanded Now! Rides now! They are not open yet. Sigh. My word.

He smacked you? Dad would be back in the room with him (no tv, no electronics, just a dark room laying down) while I take my daughter to have fun. It sounds like he may be a problem at home already? That's what it seems like to me. I don't see a normally good kid just losing all of his marbles once he's on vacation.

My son caused issues on our trip last year and he's 15 so I feel your pain. He's a complainer and boy did he do it up the first few days of our trip. After day 3 at the MK I left. On the way to the Poly I got real with him and told him I would change his flight that day and send him home unassisted minor and his dad would meet him at the airport. His dad was all for it (we're divorced). I also left him in the room and hit the Tambu Lounge and Trader Sam's for some drinks. He knew I was serious and shaped up that night.

 

[kayemgi]

Mine is only two, so I don't have any advice, but I wanted to give you some online moral support! That must be so tough when you all want to have a magical time and your son is being difficult and misbehaving. I can't even imagine having to punish my kid or miss out on the fun so he could be in a time out at Disney. That sucks. Stay strong and I hope your trip improves soon!

 

[pfp258]

I am shocked that a parent would call their child a "butt head". It sounds like there are bigger issues for this family to address.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I am shocked that a parent would call their child a "butt head". It sounds like there are bigger issues for this family to address.

I've called my kids worst. No "big" issues in our family.

 

[cruisingtwins]

And to OP it sounds like he is overtired. Try an early bedtime. That always helps when my kids are being "butt heads"

 

[pfp258]

I am so sad that any one would defend calling their children names. Name calling is childish and something adults should have grown out of if they are given the privilege of having a baby. It truly takes an emotional toll on children.

 

[wilkeliza]

I am so sad that any one would defend calling their children names. Name calling is childish and something adults should have grown out of if they are given the privilege of having a baby. It truly takes an emotional toll on children.

I'm sure OP didn't call him a butt head to his face. Even if she did my mom called me a butt head once and I'm in no way emotionally scared from it because guess what, I was being a butt head.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I am so sad that any one would defend calling their children names. Name calling is childish and something adults should have grown out of if they are given the privilege of having a baby. It truly takes an emotional toll on children.

The Op wrote it in a random message board. Raising kids is hard parents need to vent every now and then. I can't imagine what emotional toll it would take on any kid that they called their kid a butt head on a message board.

 

[cruisingtwins]

If I called my kids butt heads to their facethey would thing it was hilarious since butt is such a funny word for a 4 year old. And they would probably start calling me and everyone else butt heads so bad idea.

 

[jessg]

May seem harsh but I would give him one more chance explain to him that his behavior is completely unacceptable and that if it continues you will be hiring a baby sitter to sit in the hotel room with him for the rest of the trip while the rest of the family enjoys their vacation. If he still continues to act up take him back to the room hire an inroom baby sitter for a couple of hrs (he doesnt need to know its for a couple of hrs) and go out you your DH and DD and leave him there so he will realize ot will not be tolerated im sure a day ground to the room with no pool or park time should set him straight remind him if he continues he will be left in room for the remainder of the vacation if he cannot behave. Ask him first of course whats going on and if its really nothing but him being a brat them go for it

 

[Nancyg56]

I am so sad that any one would defend calling their children names. Name calling is childish and something adults should have grown out of if they are given the privilege of having a baby. It truly takes an emotional toll on children.

Oh please. THis is a message board and many of us know each other online. Duckiedee has been planning this trip for a long time, and has been talking to us daily, so we are a safe people to vent to. I am sure tha she is just frustrated, and before she kills the little butt head she came here.

Duckies eve- how are things going?