Wednesday, February 20, 2013

We Did This to Ourselves

We love our girls so much that it sometimes takes us by surprise. But I have to say this and get it out there so that hopefully we can start to try to fix it...

Madeline can be a real brat.

There. I said it.

Maybe it is because she was the only child for a while and that ended right as she started her terrible twos.

Maybe it is because when she cries and those giant blue eyes fill with tears, we turn to mush and give in.

Whatever the reason, we have to fix it and we have to do it now. I'm sure that you probably think it can't be that bad, but you're mistaken.

She hits. She screams. She throws toys or whatever she has handy. She flings herself on the floor. And on a few very random occasions she's taken it out on Charlotte (she shoved her over one day in a fit of rage over not getting something she wanted).

And it's getting old.

We know we did this to ourselves by giving in to her, but sometimes when you're trying to take care of two kids - one of whom is crawling and into EVERYTHING - you take the past of least resistance. I'm sure this is why Madeline is back in our bed and has been sleeping there since before Thanksgiving and has no desire to return to her room (even when we said we were going to give away her bed and all her toys). It's also probably why she does well most days at school with potty training and gives up when she gets home.

We just have to suck it up and discipline her, and it's so hard. But we both admitted last night that it's getting out of hand.

Ugh. This parenting thing is hard work.


4 comments:

  1. So refreshing! Guess what? It could just be her age and not some big mistake you've made! Cam went through a semi-violent/biting stage in his early 2's and now he is pretty tame! And why do they behave like monsters for us and angels for others? I'm struggling with bedtime and potty training too... You're not alone, sister!!!

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  2. Thanks Rebecca. I hope it's just a phase. It is awful sometimes. Of course, the way that Charlotte is growing, Madeline won't be able to push her around for too too long.

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  3. We have all been there. You are a great mom. Give yourself a hug, a pat on the back and know that it will be okay. I repeat you are a great mom!

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  4. Keep your head up!! We've all been through it and it probably is just her age and maybe a little jealousy. Thankfully the daycare teachers potty trained all three of my kids because I really don't think I wouldn't have ever gotten it done : )

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