Locking Heads With Mini-Me

So my 4 year old has entered this phase of talking back and not doing as she was told. Before, she was eager to please me and would do everything she knew she was supposed to do. Now I am met with constant defiance. Getting her to do her chores or take a bath is a pain. She will spend an hour in the bathroom if you let her. Oftentimes doing nothing but fooling around.

I spank my kids. Not all the time. I know what kind of punishment to mete out and when. But almost every day this past week she has gotten a spanking. This last dose she received last night seemed to straighten her out somewhat because this morning she was up and did all her morning things. I also take away valued items such as her princess costumes. She has a reward chart and when she gets all her stickers for the week she gets her things back.

It is a tough pill to swallow but I see a lot of myself in her. I was (and probably still am) very defiant and love having my own way. My mother is enjoying this return of karma in the form of a grandchild with spunk and an attitude to match. Me on the other hand, I am pulling my hair out trying to keep her on the straight and narrow.

The Little Bully?

What has happened to my younger child? She is becoming such a bully to her big sis. From tugging toys away to clouting her in the head with a toy bowling pin. I hope it is just a phase that she is going through. I cannot imagine having to go down to her school in the future because "your child punched another child today".

Ironically enough her sister refuses to fight back. Maybe it has been ingrained in her that she should be gentle with the baby. Or maybe she is a wuss. I don't know. But she is definitely more delicate than her baby sis. Needs more of a white glove approach. She is the dainty, girly type, while her younger sister is a rough and tumble tom boy type. Different personalities yes, but no excuse for the aggressive behavior that has become increasingly common.

For the most part the girls are great friends. They hug each other in the mornings or whenever one would come home from wherever, usually it is the older one who comes home. They play together everyday and share a bed. One will not stay in bed without the other. I hope they remain this way as they grow up but I am not unrealistic. I know that siblings do fight from time to time. For now, all I can do is hope that with lots of patient, stern, reminders, my little ruffian will learn to be nicer to her big sister.

My My My...Where has the time gone?

Soooo much has taken place in almost a year I have not had time to blink!

Brief update on the girls:

Sarah is happily settled in pre school...she is very smart and so mature for her age...she is turning 4 soon...so I say 4 going on 14.

Abi has settled into her personality. Still fiercly independent. Not as rambunctious as she was before but she still packs a mean punch when she does not get her way. She was diagnosed with autism last year so my schedule has been revolving around hers as she goes through her daily routine with special ed teachers, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.

At times I feel overwhelmed, but I am fortunate to have a support system to fall back on being a married single mom and all.