(no subject)

[rivka]

In the space of five minutes tonight, Alex got sent upstairs for hurting Colin and got all her markers, crayons, pens, and colored pencils confiscated, to be used only under close adult supervision.

Really in the space of five minutes. I was right in the middle of the "we will never, ever allow you to hurt anyone, especially your brother" speech when I had to break it off and say "...did you draw all over that ball with marker? Okay, give me the marker."

And that's just one tiny snapshot from a day full of random direct disobedience. We left two pairs of lovely new shoes we were going to buy her on the floor of the shoe store and walked out, and it still didn't make an impression.

What can you do? Finally I asked Alex if she wanted to start the day over again. I sent her into the foyer and had her close the door. Then she entered with great fanfare: "Hi! I'm home after being out of the house all day."

I hugged her and told her I was glad to see her. We traded ridiculous stories about what we had done all day. I patted myself on the back for finding a great way to reset the negativity and relate to each other with better attitudes.

Then I looked up and saw that she was peeling pieces off my mouse pad.

In other news, Colin has refused to nap longer than 20 minutes all day long, after being up before six this morning. He is such a tired crankypants that... well... honestly? He's such a tired crankypants that he's almost as much of a tired crankypants as I am.

Comments

[redbird]

Oh, dear.

Can you get a redo on the day, even if Alex can't?

I don't think so.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Oh damn. I'm sorry it's been a bad day for all concerned.

[zeldajean.livejournal.com]

Days like this my mom would declare an "EB Night", as in "Early Bedtime Night". Any "Awwwww, WHyyyyyy?!" was answered with "Because Mom's tired." the occasional longer version would be "Because Mom's tired, and when Mom's tired, everyone goes to bed!". I believe she also found this useful for nights she simply wanted time to herself and a good reason to put us to bed early, although more often than not she went to bed then also. At least long enough for us to go to sleep :)

Good luck!

[eeyorerin]

That sounds like a terrible day. I hope she wakes up on a better side of the bed and I hope Colin will actually sleep, no matter what side of the bed it may be.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I'm given to understand that some days are like that.

At least, my parents have told me that I was like that sometimes.

גם זה יעבור‎

[bigscary.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone who did it, does A have a habit of non-malicious destructive behavior?

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

*hides her incipient laughter behind a genuine expression of empathy*

Oh, man, I totally remember days like this.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh Rivka, sounds like you have a four-year-old. Or a child of some age ;-) Like Serene, I remember those days. Had one with my nearly 6 year old just last week. Tomorrow will be better.

Sorry, that anonymous was me

[(Anonymous)]

Emma, who sometimes comments but doesn't have LJ

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I'm sorry. Those days just generally suck.

[ailbhe]

Oh poor you. The restarting the day was GENIUS.

If it helps, "I'd never let my child behave like that," but they do it anyway.

Better luck tomorrow... Nice hot cup of gin?