Carrie,

First of all don’t feel you are alone and it is ONLY your child behaving this way.

 More pre schoolers are acting out than we would like to admit. Mitzi has been aggressive with me several times and still is if she is not rested. I call her on it most of the time and she goes in timeout (which she hates) But when I have her out late or she misses a nap because WE choose to let it go because we are doing something I don’t feel fair punishing her for something SHE has no control over. We are in the WHINING stage lately and it is driving me bonkers.They are basically a good kids and we have to keep in mind there little bodies are full of meds that can produce a number of different emotions. I draw the line on hitting me or her dad and banging doors. She knows when I get this you have had it look that she has pushed the  wrong button and the play time is about to end...she instantly says I am sorry but I have to punish her anyway to let her know sometimes I ’m sorry just isn’t enough for the the actions. The most positive feedback I get from her is when I hand her a sheet of paper and tell her to draw how she feels and then I ask her what can we do to make it stop....sometimes she says juice or milk and the whole mood changes(makes me think blood sugars) sometimes she actually draws herself sleeping and says she is sleepy. She did not know how to tell me or want to tell me because she did not want to take her nap at that time . I also have play puppets to let her act out anything she wants and I tell her how that makes the other puppet feel. (cry/sad/ugly/lonely) she then KNOWS the consequence of her behavior. I hope this helps ........ along with maturity it should get better.

Sincerely

Cherry Lane