It’s like he knows exactly what to do to make me give in. First, he starts pouting, then he starts crying, and if I’m firm, he throws himself on the floor screaming. It breaks my heart to see him like that, but I also know that I can’t give him everything he wants just because he cries. Sometimes I wonder… what if he really needs it? But when he gets it, he calms down in a second. That makes me think that he’s just doing it to manipulate me. And I don’t want to be that mom who lets him. But I don’t want him to hate me either
Ugh, I’m with you on this! My son does the same thing, and it’s like they can tell when you’re on the edge of giving in. It breaks my heart every time, but I try to stick to my guns. Honestly, I feel like they get so worked up because they’re testing boundaries, and I know that if I give in, it only gets worse next time. But it’s so hard to watch! You’re not alone in this, keep doing what you’re doing! You’re a great mom
Lol, omg, sounds like we have the same kid. Mine goes from zero to 100 real quick. He’ll start off with the “sad eyes” and a little whine, but if that doesn’t work, he goes straight to “the floor meltdown.” The worst part is when he stops crying the second I hand him the phone, and then I’m left wondering if I was just played. 
Ohh man, the dramatic floor throw… I’ve been there! I had a moment a few months ago where I gave in to avoid the full, blown meltdown, and it was a huge mistake. The second he got the phone, he calmed right down and just went back to playing. I felt so duped! The tantrums got worse after that, though. Now, I try my best to distract him with something else, like telling him I’ll show him something on my phone after we do XYZ. He doesn’t always go for it, but it helps a bit
I’ve been through this! My daughter used to throw tantrums every time I took my phone away too. It got so bad that she was starting to throw fits for other things too, like snacks or toys. One thing that helped was setting very clear and consistent rules, like “we use the phone for only 10 minutes,” and then stick to that, no exceptions. Also, I started offering a small reward after we followed the phone rules, like extra playtime with her favorite toy. That helped her understand that her behavior could result in a positive outcome too! I think a balance is key
Hang in there, Jessica. I know it seems like they know exactly how to push your buttons, but this phase will pass. My oldest went through the same thing, and now at 10, she’s completely fine with me having my phone. It was tough, but the tantrums faded once she understood that the phone isn’t a constant, and there are other things that are more exciting! You’re doing great by setting limits now, it’ll pay off in the long run!
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. It’s such a tricky balance, because I totally get not wanting to just give in, but at the same time, you never want them to feel like they’re being deprived either. My son did this all the time too, and I always felt guilty saying no. Even now, if I set a limit and he gets upset, I still second, guess myself! Hang in there, you’re not alone in this. 
I’m a mom to a teenager now, and looking back, the phone tantrums were real when my kids were around your son’s age. One thing that worked for us (and it took time) was creating “phone time” routines where the phone was only available after doing something else, like finishing their meal or doing a 10 minute chore. At first, there were tears, but slowly, they learned that the phone wasn’t just an automatic thing. Honestly, it took some consistent tough love, but it worked long term. I promise it’ll get better!
I hear you, Jessica. It’s so tough when they can manipulate your emotions like that. I went through the same thing with my daughter around the same age. We found that when we created a “no phone during certain times” rule and stuck to it, it worked better. It wasn’t always easy, but staying firm while giving her some alternatives helped. I’d offer her another activity to do instead, like a puzzle or even a fun game on the tablet (which was still limited but something new for her). Eventually, she stopped expecting to get the phone and stopped the tantrums. Keep at it, consistency really pays off! It’ll get easier, I promise. 