Hello Ladies,
So recently like the past couple of weeks, my daughter has been very naughty. It's almost like shes trying to make me mad. It's very frustrating and I don't know how much more I can take!! For example. I'll ask her to just simply put her plate on the counter and she'll say no, and she'll like look at me and wait for me to say something. So i'll ask her again and she'll say no. Then I tell her to go sit on time out for not listening and telling me no. and she'll cry and kick around, but eventually go and then she'll ask to get up and i'll say okay if your going to be good. Then she'll just sit there..
So I ask her, Kira , are you going to get up? And she says, You said i had to sit here.. Im like kIra, I just said you can get up. and she'll continue to sit there, then ill just go off and do my own thing and she'll sit there talking saying i wish i could get up.. like i cant hear her ??? ugh shes playing these games with me and its driving me nuts.. What can I do ??????? Ive tried ignoring her and walking away in hopes shed just stop and get that I didn't care for this game but she makes it hard to let it go. Please help.. ! :p
Maybe instead of saying can you take your plate, you could say "Let's clean up together and then we can _____. And fill in the blank with something nice you like to do together. Like read a book or go play outside. I use the next good thing sometimes when I'm talking about chore type stuff and then my kid hardly thinks about the chore becuase he knows he has something to look forward to.
I think Charlie's idea is a good one.
As for the time out issue, you could set a timer for a certain amount of time that way she knows when it rings it's time to get out. There's no room for argument or misunderstanding with that.
She's like 4.5, right? Mine is 3.5 so we're not there yet, but I keep hearing how 4.5 is like the age of power struggles and mamas pulling their hair out. So nothing to add really, except that you're not alone. Good luck.
thank you everyone for your input ill try all of that. I'll do anything right now, she is just driving me nuts lol!