Where did my sweet baby boy go??

My son is 5. He was the best baby ever. He was amazing in his 2's and around 3 he began to act out. Lasted a few months and then he was back to normal. A few months later, same thing. I thought now that he is 5 we would be in the clear. Apparently not. He's been SO annoying (like trying to piss me off), disrespectful, spitting, not listening at all, hitting his sister, saying he doesn't love us, etc. It's heartbreaking and I've had it. I felt like an awful person all day because I just wanted my space from him. I'm so disappointed and starting to feel like I'm doing something wrong. When he's good, he's perfect and when he's not, well... . How would you discipline your LO in this situation. I've tried:

-explaining to him calmly that his actions will not be tolerated

-taking away his fave things

-putting him in time out

- yelling

- telling him I'm disappointed (guilt trip)

Advice please

Signed,
A Very Sad Mommy

P.S.
Please tell me I'll be in the clear at 6!

Re: Where did my sweet baby boy go??

I would love to know others advice. I'm dealing with the same only my son is 4.5.

Re: Where did my sweet baby boy go??

Have him earn his favorite things for behavior. For DS at that age he would "earn" his favorite show, play a video game, get ice cream, candy... Small daily things. If he was warned more than 2 times, his opportunity to earn that thing is gone. Carrying on means he isn't getting an additional thing so the tantrum for not earning only digs a deeper hole. Completely ignoring the bad behavior or telling him if he's going to behave this way, do it in his room away from me worked well too. DH and I both are the only ones who discipline him (no grandparents involved really) so it's easy to keep consistent and make the rules stick. DS is very stubbon but also easy to manipulate because he has so many things he loves!!!

Re: Where did my sweet baby boy go??

That is very typical 5 year old behavior. I found when my son went into K, he thought he was, for lack of a better word so "cool". I feel like it is them getting a BIG taste of their independence. At 6, he def seems to have gotten much better. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel!!! Though my almost 5 yr old is now becoming the "cool" one, and I have two more bringing up the rear...haha!

Re: Where did my sweet baby boy go??

My son will be 5 next month and all I have to say is at least you had a couple years! LOL
I feel like he has an answer for everything and its getting ridiculous! He imitates things other people do, either on TV or in real life because he thinks they are cool. For example, he was playing with my neighbors son who is 7. He said "yeah yeah blah blah blah" when his mother said something to him, so now my DS says it all the time! I heard it passes! I have a behavior chart at home that he earns rewards for, but at this point, he has so much crap that he doesn't care if he gets a reward or not. We have been working on having him do "experiences".

Re: Where did my sweet baby boy go??

DS is 4 and acting out. I think a bunch of it is from classmates and stuff he's doing in school. For the first time the other day he was making farting noises and laughing. He's never done that. I guess at school.
WHo knows