So, a little background.

My mom had my little brother when I was 15, and then the dad was no longer in the picture. So basically, I’ve been helping my mom raise my little brother since day one.

He’s five now, and i have a baby on the way (I’m 33 weeks). He is adjusting and not taking it very well since I’m more like a mother figure and not just a sister.

His behavior is sometimes out of control, but more honestly it’s just weird. Sometimes he tries to act like a baby (which I’m guessing is because there is one coming soon). But it’s not just little things like sucking a thumb or using a baby voice.

I watch him during the day while my mom is working and he is very independent. I told him I was going to lay down for a few minutes and put a movie on for him, and made sure he had snacks. He was always okay like this, my bedroom door is open and right by the living room so I always hear if he needs something.

My mom comes home while I’m laying in bed, and he goes upstairs to see her.

When I get up to go to the bathroom I SMELL POOP? so I figured he forgot to flush the toilet or something, but there was an open pull up with POOP in it laying in my trash can. Keep in mind he is 5. He hasn’t used pull ups in years, we don’t even know where he found one.

My first thought was “oh, someone must be visiting and used my bathroom” but when I go upstairs no one is there but my family. So I told my mom what I found and he immediately said “OH THAT WAS NOT ME” which always means he did it. Eventually he confessed, wasn’t sorry, and thought it was funny no matter how hard we tried to explain why he can’t do that.

How can I stop behavior like this before the baby gets here? I understand it’s a change so I don’t want to be too harsh on him but that is unacceptable. On top of weird things like this he’s been defiant and aggressive and just rude. We’ve tried the soft approach, talking it out, grounding him from certain things, having him stay with his grandparents for a few days (which worked for a while), but nothing sticks. Has any one had similar experiences? I’m so frustrated with him at this point.