Rainbowzz,

Typically when he lashes out it is an immediate withdrawal of privileges. Nothing else seemed to work - time out never works, it just serves to make him angrier and I don't spank or use physical punishment. Withdrawing privileges is hard though too. We are a non TV watching family, we don't have sugary snacks in the house and there aren't really many things to take away. I know how imperative it is to keep my cool when he loses his temper. I learned when he was four that me losing my temper just resulted in a screaming power match. So now I maintain my temper and tell him his punishment in a firm voice. It is hard, however, when he doesn't listen. By the fourth time of telling him something, my voice is raised because I am impatient and at my wit's end. He doesn't seem to be able to do anything without my direction, not even the simplest task. His teacher says he is the same at school.

He lied to me the other night about eating his vegetables and I saw his celery in the trash (I had walked away from the table). I gave him a second and third chance to tell me the truth and he still maintained the lie so I removed his legos from his room and cancelled his snacks for the week. He was upset at first but seems to be handling it ok now.

Kaika, I applaud you for being this young boy's friend. He needs friends. I think my son would be better off with more friends too. I wish he would stop bullying enough to make some.

Thanks for everyone's advice.