Behaviour

I'm not sure where to put this so I thought I'd put it here! The problem is Molly. She is just so badly behaved. I don't think we've been particularly different with her than we were with George but she will not take any notice of anything we say! Example 1) Tonight, her and george were at the table having their evening meal - she asked for a lolly and I said no, not until you have eaten your dinner. I then went upstairs for aminute to return and discover she had taken a lolly from the freezer and was sitting there eating it; Example 2) she took all the cushions from the sofa and put them on the floor, I told her not to do so and put them back, she goes for a bath with Paul and comes down and takes them all off again! I get cross, Paul gets cross and so she hits george and makes him cry! It's just everything we tell her ot to do she does. Bedtime is a nightmare and she won't go to sleep unless one of us is sitting next to her bed. If we try to leave her and be firm she will just scream her head off!

Any ideas?

sarah xx

[Liz1967]

Hi Sarah

Sorry but I did laugh about the lolly bit, obviously your DD is full of spirit (bit like her mum methinks ???) The behaviour you mention is quite normal I would say but does need reprimanding sooner rather than later.

Anyway, when my children were younger and naughty I used the naughty step a lot. It took a while to see results but it worked. According to Supernanny its a minute for each year of their lives. So, for the lolly incident I would have removed the lolly, put Molly on the naughty step for 2 minutes, making sure she knew why she was there, and then at the end of 2 minutes if she says sorry then she is off the step.

It's painful to start with because you are forever putting them back onto the step but after a few days you will find the threat of the step improves behaviour.

Good Luck!!

Love
Liz
xx

[ann]

Originally Posted by Liz1967

Hi Sarah

Sorry but I did laugh about the lolly bit, obviously your DD is full of spirit (bit like her mum methinks ???)

i was just thinking the same thing

she took all the cushions from the sofa and put them on the floor, I told her not to do so and put them back,

ali does this about ten times a day and im not talking the throw cushions i mean the big ones you sit on from both chairs and the sofa, you only have to turn your back for a min and he's got them off and on the floor in a pile using them as a bouncy castle. to be honest im not worried that much although we tell him no but as there are a lot worse things he could do and it only takes a min to put them back (plus the sofa has just about had it now)

as for the lolly out the freezer alex has done exactly the same thing, he got told off and for being naughty he not only didnt have the lolly he had to sit and watch Ali eat it as i gave it to him and the next box i bought Alex didnt get one at all, he's not done it since.

i think its just a case of kids will be kids and they grow out of it in the end.

sorry not much help am I years ago i would of gone mad at my older lot for doing things like that but now what the hell they are only young once and provided they dont really over step the mark i have a thousand times more patience with them

she'll find something worse to do soon and you will be wishing she was just throwing the sofa cusions off we have the teenage years to live through yet!!!

love Ann

[Sharon xx]

....the others have said most of what I'd have said and this could be Ethan especially the cushion thing . The only other thing is could Molly be 'feeding' off all the stress that you've had to deal with lately - especially affecting her settling at night??? They're very perceptive to stuff like that, I know Ethan is for sure. If I'm on the ball and happy/relaxed then all goes smoothly here but if I'm down, tired or running on a short fuse then it all goes pear shaped pretty quickly. Bedtime is always the first thing to show signs of poorlyness/unhappiness etc here - I too end up sitting with him 'til he nods off but if all is right with his world then he'll settle himself off no probs. Just a thought xx.

HTH's

with love and hugs

Sharon xx

Hiya Sarah!

Ugh, Molly sounds just like Al right now ... maybe they swapped notes when we come over recently! The only thing I'm finding works at all is the naughty step... I plonk him on the stairs, telling him he must not do whatever it was and that he has to sit there for 2 mins, then I turn my back on him. Sometimes he laughs (no idea how I manage not to hit something hard when he does that!) but sometimes he cries and says sorry mummy, sorry mummy.

Other than that I have no idea but if you get anywhere please tell me how!

Shan x

[erika]

Sarah,

I feel for you! I only have one so this type of behaviour bothers me too.

Honestly I don't know how to deal with it as my DD has a lot more energy to do naughty things than I have to deal with it! Maybe pick your battles. The things that really drive you nuts be consistant about and correct while letting other things go. Personally I would be more upset about the lolly than the couch cushions. If you said no, it should always mean no. Its awfully young to start thinking you're going to override mum's authority when you want.

As my daughter gets into her terrible twos, I am more and more shocked at what a little monkey she can be. Some days it never ends!! And then other days I get the million dollar hug that makes me ignore everything.

Erika
xxx