I never knew one child could bring a single soul to tears more often than this little girl.
She is the cutest, smartest, sweetest little girl in town. Then suddenly a switch flips and she has my hair gray and by the time the day is over most of it is on the floor because I've pulled it out piece by piece.
I've tried killing her with kindness. I've tried giving her her own medicine. I've tried ignoring her (but then it gets worse, FAST!) At church on Sunday a Sister gave a lesson on depression and one of the things that was said was, "my parents never said anything directly to me, it was what they said about me that I over heard that caused the most damage." YIKES!!! So, we are trying really, super-d-duper hard to only say the most positive things about our little stinkers at all times.
Oh my word, she is cute! And have I mentioned how much fun she can be. She says the cutest things and this morning at breakfast as she was repeating the lines from Shrek word for word. I was dying laughing. And then later in the day when she asked so innocently, "Mom, why are Ogars like onions? With lots of layers?" And then I tried ever so hard to explain what Shrek was talking about. See... Cute! Innocent and stinking cute.
But then... (I will keep this short and only share two less than cute experiences from tonight.)
the kids were sent to bed, a bit earlier than normal due to V.E.R.Y. short naps and even shorter fuses this evening. Kevin and Julia were put in the same bed, which is the norm these days due to the basement work going on. We can hear them wrestling, arguging, tugging, lots of comotion going on when Julia walks out.
J-Ugh! Kevin is stealing all of my blankets. I can NOT sleep with him.
Dad-Why don't you grab your red sleeping bag and sleep in it, he can't steal those?
J-No! I only want to sleep with the flower blanket.
Dad to Kevin- Kevin please sleep in the red sleeping bag.
Kevin walks around the corner Julia gives him a gnarly stink eye and says, -Ugh! Kevin, GET IN BED!
REALLY? Who is she?
Then after bugging them for a good hour to go to sleep and to stop fighting I go in my own bathroom to color my hair and regain some sanity.
Low and behold who walks in at 8:45. One hour and fiften minutes after the last episode.
J-Moooom!!!
Mom- Julia, go get in bed now or you are not going to go to the library tomorrow.
J- But Mom!!! I have to tell you something.
M-What?
J-Kevin is being all mad and doesn't want me to snuggle with his feet.
M-Well, he probably doesn't like it. Why don't you grab your blanket and get in my bed.
J-NO! I don't want my blanket.
M-ok, well get in my bed.
J-I can't sleep in here. I can't listen to you do your hair.
M-I'm finished. Get in my bed.
J-No!
M-Either get in my bed now or you don't get to check out movies from the library tomorrow.
J-Blood curdling screaming...-I have to, I want to!!! You are so mean!
I then explain consequences for the umpteenth time. I then tell her how much fun we can have together if we are nice to each other and if we mind when we are asked to do something. She agrees that that sounds fun. I think I've finally hit a soft spot she starts walking towards the bed and says,
"I like it better when we fight!"
"I like it better when we fight!"
She gets in bed kicking and screaming. Losing the chance to check out movies tomorrow, which brings on more screaming and yelling, I tell her she can stop now or no books either. She loses her chance to check out books. I walk out. She goes quiet and was fast asleep within a few minutes.
Now, both these stories are funny. Like really funny. But, these don't include the yelling, back talking, door slamming naughty-ness.
Which always come with consequences. I have an entire box (like a big box from our movers) full of makeup, toys, blankets, dress up clothes. That she has had taken away for not minding, slamming doors, screaming no, and just flat out being naughty.
She makes me cry.
Every night I go to bed praying that I'll have more patience the next morning and that I'll know how to parent her giving her the opportunity to make choices and enjoy life. But so far, I strick out. LIKE BAD! Heaven help us!!!
I'm grateful for her cuteness and her sillyness and her Julia-ness.
I am blessed to have her and I know it.
I pray I'll be blessed to know how to parent her!!!
2 comments:
You're a good mom Jessie! Hang in there!!
I agree. Three is way worse than 2. But then, I have a daughter very much like Julia that you are describing and she is 6. I keep telling myself it is a phase, but I think it is just her. We are good moms. I keep telling myself that this is making me more Christlike. :)
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