Little E has been acting not so little. I have had a very real glimpse at what she will be like in ten years time. It is a hellish glimpse. Can I rewind and pretend I didn't see please?
The incidents have been numerous and sustained ranging from minor back chatting, refusal to listen to instructions and being heavy handed with her baby sister to full on rages, slamming bedroom doors, locking herself in the bathroom and screaming at me. There has also been the usual toddler tantrums thrown into the mix including chucking large toys around her bedroom and even protest weeing on her carpet (kinda hoping she doesn't do that in ten years time).
But the worst thing has to be the use of one word when being reprimanded... 'Fine'.
You can imagine the tone. The 'I don't give a damn if you are punishing me' attitude completely negating any punishment I have just bestowed. It is usually accompanied by a dismissive shrug whilst walking away. It is a breath away from 'Whatever'.
To top it all off the diva behaviour has reached epic proportions. She point blank refuses to wear clothes unless they are pink. All her shorts are blue so despite the heatwave she is wearing leggings and jumper dresses. If I don't style her ponytail/plait/pigtails correctly she collapses in a puddle of tears.
And her negotiation skills are worthy of the CIA. She bargains continually to try and get another biscuit/story/5 minutes in the bath. She wears you down until you crumble just to get a minute of peace. Husband summed it up perfectly - it is like living with a small terrorist.
So how do I deal with my Threenager? I've stuck to every punishment and followed through on every warning but the behaviour hasn't changed and she is showing me zero respect. I haven't even touched on the bullying her poor baby sister is experiencing this week.
Nursery are blaming the heat but can a rise of a few degrees really be responsible for turning my little girl into a monster? Or is this it until she turns 21? Heaven help me!
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