serious talkings to
Today Aprilia has had to have several of these. She has swung from whining, limp pseudo-teenager to hperactive, in-ya-face toddler demanding full attention. She whined when I read to her, until I pointed out that I fully intended to carry on starting and stopping every time she whined until I finished what I intended to read and if that took all day then so be it. Once she actually sat and listened she was actually quite interested in today’s bits, she had just decided before we started to be vile about it all.
She bounced and deliberately gave the wrong answers whilst giggling manically when we did puzzles until I pointed out that I wsn’t going to start making tea until she finished the page sensibly (and she had been declaring herself to be starving for the past 2 hours)
She complained that we haven’t done any practical stuff for a while and I pointed out that we only do that once the chores, stories and puzzles hvae been done because much as I love baking, gardening, crafting and practical science, they all make a mess and require effort from me both to plan, carry out and CLEAR UP AFTER which I don’t feel inclined to put in when there is nothing being given in return. Actually I took rather a long time to explain this part of the Greater Scheme Of Things as its something that really winds me up (can you tell???), I am very concious (as I’ve noted before) that she’s an only one and the chances therefore of her being a spoilt brat are much higher than with other kids. It’s not a character trait I particularly want her to develop.
She cheated when I got a board game out by moving my counter when she thought I wouldn’t notice (becuase of course, i’m not going to notice going back to just near the start having been quite near the end of the board now am I) and by picking th number she wanted on the dice and putting it down having "pretended" to roll it. All blatant button pushing more than anything else but it’s the wrong time of the month to push buttons. Grump, growl, grizzle.
However, tomorrow she is with Granny and Grandpa so once I hvae dropped her off I am heading striaght back here for a leisurely day with me and my timer - 30 mins study, 30 mins PC time, 30 mins housework, 30 mins with feet up and a brew and something tastey, repeat until its time to get her back.
the problem is, of course, that we have fallen out of routine. She falls totally apart without a solid routine but when I try to pull it back she swings between wanting it and fighting it. and she loaths change, the changing of the hour renders her vile for a week or two every 6 months. I’m tempted to not bother changing it at all and just living an hour out from everyone else all summer.
I’d consider that about the clocks, but think it might be rather difficult to work around school!
Comment by Jax — April 7, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
Were you more annoyed that she cheated, or that she cheated badly!! Just kidding! Hope she settles down soon.
Comment by Elizabeth — April 7, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
“just living an hour out from everyone else all summer.”
I think we already do live at least 2 hours out from other people already! Beccy is a farmers daughter so she and Rubes rise early and go to bed early. We rise late and go to bed late. Consequently only half of one family’s day actually coincides with the other. Makes meeting up challenging when we try anything outside the hours of 10am to 3pm .
Comment by michelle — April 7, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
I wish they’d just do away with the hour’s change - since I had kids it really annoys me, having to readjust their schedule twice each year. Grrrr!
Comment by Joanna — April 8, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
Join us…. get rid of the clocks, just use egg timers
If anyone knows where I can get an hour and a half hour timer, Please email me!
Comment by vicki — April 9, 2008 @ 9:57 pm