What happened? I had a smiley, sweet girl this morning. This evening I am bone tired and my head aches. Now Riley is uncharacteristically grumpy. Grumpelstiltiskin, pitching a fit while playing playdough?!? Un-be-lievable. Throwing toys at Grandma? Come on. Really? Refusing to put toys in a bag (her favorite activity). She's so very, inescapably two this evening.
Throwing, kicking, fighting. Little Riley quite contrary. Her favorite phrase is "I don't want" with lots of extra syllables. She threw herself to the ground and pulled a lamp down inches from her head. She loves to throw garbage away it's her second most helpful activity after helping load the dryer. Tonight when she was asked to throw her banana peal away she chucked it right on the ground. Defiant little bugger.
Bath time was a nightmare too and she loves baths. She demanded to get out so I told her to sit down for a minute. She yelled "No!" in my face. I drained the tub wrapped her in a towel and ignored the crying heap on the bath mat. When she calmed down I explained how getting out was her bad choice.
We had a pleasant story time experience, which was a relief. As soon as we finished the book and I wished her good night the thrashing and screaming started. I assured her if she cried I'd shut the door. I asked if she'd rather look at a book quietly with the door open. She made the logical choice for once this evening.
Then, after multiple requests to clean his room were ignored, I caught Isaac with his feet up on his destroyed desk reading a book. I pointed out that his list of responsibilities clearly states "clean room" before "have a good time!". This list has existed for at least 2 years. Beyond that, he was warned about and punished for not picking up last night. So, today at 4pm he ignored my request, at 6:30 he ignored my plea to straighten up and come eat (or the first half at least) and now after he'd lost his computer he was lounging in his mess like he was on vacation?!?
His behavior at school today was poor so his sticker chart was looking skimpy tonight, as it was. I told him how disrespectful ignoring me was. Pointed out that he made the mess, he let it go several days and he ignored multiple opportunities to take care of it. So, it wasn't me he was mad at. I planted myself while he started putting the mound of books back on the shelf. His protested and I explained how trust works and how I really didn't want to sit there. He worked diligently for several minutes and then exploded in a fit of temper. I sent him to shower and adjust his attitude.
It worked he come out clean and calm. I sent him to work on the mess for the ten minutes before bed after he apologized. He has a big field trip tomorrow and no school Friday so the prospect of restricted privileges really overwhelmed him. Now they are quiet in their rooms and Mike has brownies in the oven. I may survive...
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