I hope to God that August brings you not only a shift in the weather, but a divine shift in your attitude and outlook on your little life. In the last several days you have:
- yelled at us
- hit us
- hissed at us
- growled at us
- stomped at us
- screeched at the top of your lungs at us
- thrown things at us
- told me you'd never speak to us again
- told me us didn't like us
- disobeyed us
- been un-thankful towards us
- been downright hateful towards us
these last several weeks it has been very difficult for me to parent, be consistent and set expectations with you. you wake up angry. pissed off at the world. i have tried everything to combat this. i have tried to wake up hours before you, so that you don't storm into my room, screaming at me telling me to wake up now and beginning your day with a barrage of i wants.
tonight? i have had it. i am done. i am exhausted. i am beat down. i am tired. i am worn out. i allow myself to feel like it is not okay to feel any of this. that i should just let it go. not let it get to me. ignore it. what is not understood by some is that if i do any of this, it allows the behavior to perpetuate and become a habit for you. i refuse, with all that i am, to allow that to happen.
although all of this horrible behavior from you has beaten me down so low, i feel like i am incompetent, one thing remains consistent, i have never once, even for an instant, stopped loving you. i just don't understand you. i can't comprehend what in your little big life makes you so angry. you have everything. you have two parents who rise and set each day because you exist. we do everything for you, with you. we play, we explore, we try new things together. we read, we make art, we watch movies, we experience life with you. we constantly give to you. of ourselves, our time, our very being is yours for the taking. if you'll just have it.
i don't know what more i can do, but show you tough love. i will continue to take things away from you and restrict you until you learn. i will continue to enforce the positive behavior in such a way you'd think a circus came to town, but i will not, for an instant, ignore the negative behavior. i will deal with it, you will not like it, and i don't care. because i love you. and i insist you become a good person. a sweet person. a respectful person. an empathetic person. a likable person. because i will not accept anything less from you. someday, this will all make sense to you. for now, you will, i guess, think i'm horrible on the best of days.
i just hope it shifts very soon. momma cannot tolerate too many more bad days like this. again, i've never stopped loving you, not even for an instant. i have a mad, crazy love for you that grows stronger every moment. never forget that.
love with all my heart,
momma
2 comments:
It is never easy to be a parent, but you are right to deal with it. Others face the same battle. Pick three to five behaviors you will not accept and post them on the refrigerator. List the consequences for each behavior. Just say they are unacceptable, period. Then follow through. Justine uses time out in their bedrooms, followed by a talk and then they must apologize. She has several books by a guy who is sometimes in the newspaper, he has a no nonsense attitude. It is obvious you love her and she knows it deep in her heart. My Mom and I both used a withdrawal of affection, and that seemed to work for us, always stating, I love ( or Like ) you but I dislike this behavior. HUGS to you!
Bon bon
Oh Girla! I feel for you....but I have to say you have it all right. You should definately deal with it. Face that shit head on. You don't have to be her friend right now but you will always be her biggest fan I'm sure. Just keep doing what you are doing and I am SURE she will be just fine. ((((((BIG HUGS))))))) to you.
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