4 yr. old angry

The child that I will name Ruth has very high and low mood swings.  This child can be the most loving child and then call you a B....  tell you she hates you when nothing at all as changed. I mean in the middle of playing a game with out a change at all.

I have found the behavior is worst when she is tired or when we are leaving or going somewhere.  It does not matter where we are going such as swimming, to the zoo, things for her enjoyment.  

Her mother has stated to me that she hits and pinches her.  I have seen the marks on her mother.  I must state her that I do believe the mother does become agressive with the child but I have not proof.  

The child wants to be hugged, tickled and held in your arms for love but then wants to fight very aggressively to a point of too much.  

She is very very intelligent.  She is reading.  She does have trouble at school at times for being too agressive with other children, per her mother. I took the child to McDonalds one day and she was playing on the playground.  I heard a child yelling telling off another child and then a child come running out of the play area.  I thought brother and sisters playing.  NOPE after the child came running out followed Ruth with a look of being in trouble.  Then on the side I saw her tell the child she was sorry.  She thought the child was going to tell their mother as I think they did.  

The child's mother is actually her greatgrand mother.  The child's birth mother was into drugs and had her for a year or so.  No one knows what happened to Ruth during this time. The actual mother is no longer in the picture.

I am becoming very very worried one for the child and her mother (greatgrand mother)because of the abuse.  

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

There is certainly reason to be concerned, both because of the behavioral and emotional symptoms themselves, and because of the inadequate early parenting. Inadequate parenting in the first couple of years of life can lead to significant prblems re: relationships, impulse control and management of emotions. In addition, there may be some compromised hereditary factors. It would be prudent for her guardians to arrange a thorough developmental evaluation, and perhaps her pediatrician can point the way toward this.