I Am At a Loss
And I don’t know what to do. I love my girls with all my heart, but the Big One is going to put me over the edge very soon.
She has been extremely naughty recently. When I ask {or tell} her to do something, she doesn’t. When I ask {or tell} her NOT to do something, she does it. She backtalks, sasses, rolls her eyes and generally causes me angst.
So at 4 this morning, she starts whining about her “blankey.” So I drag my butt out of bed to help her with her blanket. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I assume she has gotten up to go potty and has had some trouble getting covered up again.
I was wrong. Instead once I get to her room I notice that the ladybug light is turned on. We turn it on when she goes to sleep, it stays on for 45 minutes and then turns off. She is NOT supposed to touch it once she is in bed.
So I ask her if she did it, she confirms that she did. I tell her to NOT do it again, or I will take it away. So at 5:08 a.m. what do you think happened? She is whining again about her blanket. I go back in her room and she has turned it on again. So I calmly tell her that I said I would take it away if she turned it on again and now that she had turned it on, I was taking it away.
The tears start flowing and the whaling begins. I then tell her to knock it off, that if she wakes up the Little One I was going to spank her bottom. The Little One has a little cold and needs to sleep all that she can.
She cries for a good 45 minutes or so, but it’s not too loud so I let it go.
At about 6:45 I get up to take a shower. Now we have ONE major rule when it comes to waking up. The Big One is allowed to get up and go potty, but then she is to go back to her room. I don’t care if she goes back to sleep or reads books or plays with her toys, but she MUST be in her room. Under NO circumstances is she to go near her sister’s room, let alone in there.
So I get out of the shower and hear the girls having a conversation:
Big One: Did your body tell you it was time to wake up?
Little One: YESSSSSS
Big One: Are you done sweeping?
Little One: YESSSSSSS
Not only has she gone near the Little One’s door, she is in there chatting and playing. I am so angry I don’t even know what to do with her.
Now she is calling for me, “Mommy, {Little One} is awake!” Imagine that.
Anyone have any tips for dealing with an unruly three year-old? I have tried reasoning, bribing, yelling, punishing, spanking, taking away things, rationalizing, loving, and ignoring. Nothing works.
fixitmommy.com 
no..but i hope your other fans do! Im listening!
Sorry no tips, but I am going through the same thing with my 2 1/2 year old. Hopefully someone has tips for us all!!
Wow, you’re strict. Big one is 3?
I guess I’m a bit laid back on stuff like that. Well, now my 4 and 2 year old share a room but the 4 y.o. sleeps really deeply and even when the 2 y.o. wakes up, sometimes the older one doesn’t. 🙂
Yep, she’s 3. Am I strict? I didn’t think so! 🙂 Maybe I am. Although my mom does refer to me as the “Sleep Nazi.”
You asked for help on BHB, so… I find spanking ineffective over the long run, consequences must fit the actions to be effective. Try the books 1-2-3 Magic or Smart Parenting. Good Luck. Thanks for sharing your blog.
Every Mom (and Dad) goes through that. You figure it out the best way you can, trial and error. I guess you can take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.
Too strict? I’ve seen your wonderful mommy skills first hand…you’re great!
We are going through that crap with Stevie. I just keep telling myself that the terrible 3s are halfway over. Only 6 (or so) months left. You aren’t strict. You should see some of MY rules.
CNC has been giving me a run for my money lately too…. I think he’s picked up that I am physically incapacitated and Dad’s not home in the evenings. Maybe they all act up in the fall? I dunno, but this too shall pass..right?