Behavior after SD leaves

daronsmommy

I usually lurk here, but I have a question. Does anyone else's LO (DS is 21 months) have behavior issues after your step-children go back to BM's house. DS has been pretty mean, hitting, kicking, throwing fits, etc for a day or two after SD leaves. We recently had SD for a week and DS's behavior was bad for about 4 days after she went back to BM's. I'm sure it's just him adjusting to the change and missing her, but is there anything I can do to help him. We try to let him talk to her on the phone once a week, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. Any advice would be appreciated. TIA.

FutureMrsWittig

I think this is like any other bad behavior, try to empathize with him and tell him that it's okay to feel what he's feeling, it's just not okay to act out.  Instead he needs to talk about it so he can get hugs to feel better or he can call his sister to feel better.  Something like "I know you are sad, and it's okay to be sad because sister isn't here.  It's not okay to hit though.  Tell Mommy 'I feel sad' and then let's find another way to make you feel better."

daronsmommy

Thanks for the responses ladies. DS has a stuffed monkey that SD gave him for his birthday. He plays with it often and sleeps with it some nights. I have really empathized using his words recently, so I will do that about feeling sad sissy is gone too. We have pictures all over the house of her but I never thought about giving him his own. I will do that and see if it helps. Thanks again!

Tasheystar

My DS is like this too. He had three time-outs today at school (SD left last night). I try to talk to him about what's going on/causing him to feel that he needs to act out, but it's hard at that age.

I don't really have advice. Just wanted you to know that you're not alone.