My 5yr old DS is still prone to tantrums, and even his 7yr old sister will have the occasional meltdown. Not that DS is a generally grumpy child, just one of those delightful up and down kids whose every emotion is magnified and right below the surface!! More joy from him than from his sister, but he's very tiring too.

Right now he's tired because he has to get up at 6am to go drop his sister at school, but his own school is 1-5pm. It's only been a few days, but boy does it ever show! Jenn, it sounds like you've got one of these too - I think they probably come under the 'spirited' labe if you were to read something like Mary Sheedy Kurcinka (I haven't, but somehow it sticks in my head!). These kids are far more exhausting than most of the ones you see around, and it's easy to get to screaming point when there just isn't any let-up. The endless questions and arguing and tantrums and the highs and lows... Sometimes I use up prayers just hoping DS will take a breath between sentences one day! The nonstop talk alone is enough to get right inside me and make my skin crawl from the inside out.

I hear arguments now as the older hellion and the younger 'spirited' child go 'at it'. I wish she'd take it out on her classmates, but no, she prefers to be a doormat at school and be nasty to everyone at home!

I thought I'd get a break between toddler and preteen at least. Used to be safe until they were teenagers...

Kerri.