I have a darling daughter (DD) who turned 3 in June. I also gave birth to my darling son (DS) in July. Since February my DD has been having some attitude problems but since just before DS was born things are horrible and I am really starting to dislike her and the person she seems to be. Its not just a matter of her ignoring everyting that comes out of mine or my husbands mouth but she picks fights and does the opposite of what we ask even if its something good eg We say try and jump really high on the trampoline. Well she will suddenly sit down and so NO I DONT WANT TO. She might ask for "something to eat" which I hear a thousand times a day Im sure just for attention and normally I would offer her a list of reasonably healthy things but the other day I immediately pulled a pack of Tiny Teddys out of my bag and gave it to her and she had a look of delight on her face before she realised that she had just accepted it without an argument so the she started to say "I dont want . . . " but stopped short because she realised what she would be turning down.
She is tooooo smart for a 3 year old and turning out to be toooo smart for us. We try ignoring the non-important things but the she uses that against us and keeps doing it because we ignore it. We try time out, taking toys away, smacking - everything and she just doesnt care.
I try to spend some play time with her each day and she gets to watch me change DS nappy and gets a nurse at least once a day but once again she only asks for a nurse as soon as I say he's going to bed - again, attention seeking. He is only 8 weeks old so cant do anything yet but she talks to him while he's on his mat but she uses this stupid high pitched crazy voice and fast wild movements really close to him, she pulls his arms and legs usually gently but when I havent responded to that she might do a hard squeeze or pull, so she knows that Im ignorning the unacceptable behaviour so then she takes it to the next step where I have to intervene or DS or DD will get hurt. My husband and I have now started to argue because we have both been sooo strung out by her. We are arguing while we are agreeing with each other. This has to stop !!!
I should stop now before I run out of space. Does anyone have any ideas to help me. Please dont just say it will take time because Im running out of patience and my mind. HELP ME PLEASE.
She is tooooo smart for a 3 year old and turning out to be toooo smart for us. We try ignoring the non-important things but the she uses that against us and keeps doing it because we ignore it. We try time out, taking toys away, smacking - everything and she just doesnt care.
I try to spend some play time with her each day and she gets to watch me change DS nappy and gets a nurse at least once a day but once again she only asks for a nurse as soon as I say he's going to bed - again, attention seeking. He is only 8 weeks old so cant do anything yet but she talks to him while he's on his mat but she uses this stupid high pitched crazy voice and fast wild movements really close to him, she pulls his arms and legs usually gently but when I havent responded to that she might do a hard squeeze or pull, so she knows that Im ignorning the unacceptable behaviour so then she takes it to the next step where I have to intervene or DS or DD will get hurt. My husband and I have now started to argue because we have both been sooo strung out by her. We are arguing while we are agreeing with each other. This has to stop !!!
I should stop now before I run out of space. Does anyone have any ideas to help me. Please dont just say it will take time because Im running out of patience and my mind. HELP ME PLEASE.
Bec. Mum to Jade (June 03) and Makai (July 06)