So today I laid down some new rules. You may not agree with them, which is cool, this isn’t your house, it is mine and until you pay my bills or finance me, your opinion really doesn’t matter. Let me just say that first of all. So my child, who for years and years has been really good with cleaning up after herself and taking care of her books and toys and showing appreciation for her stuff, all of of sudden is the complete opposite. Her room is ALWAYS a mess. Her toys, she doesn’t take care of them nor does she show any appreciation for them. I get the whole “when they go to school their attitudes get bigger”situation, but the difference in my child is like day and night. I never in a million years imagined a little 7 year old kid could break me down and just make me cry my face off, but that is what happened today. I’m so over the back talking and everything else. Her new favorite line is “I dont have to listen to you” and I’m just like “News flash Honey, you have to listen to me until A) You can move out on your own or B) You pay my bills,so until that happens or you turn 18, you’re going to have to listen to me”
I suppose it doesn’t help matters that she has received a large amount of toys between now and Christmas. Not even going to deny it, she is spoiled. However she just used to be spoiled, not a brat. Now she’s a spoiled brat lol. I think it has to do with the fact that from Christmas until now, she literally has received gifts every two days. From all the stuff she got at Christmas, which was ALOT, to all the stuff that came in the mail late, to money inside of cards and gift cards, she’s always getting something new. I go out every two days and buy my groceries fresh. Veggie and fruit wise, I prefer fresh over canned or frozen. So when I do a quick pick up, Shay always asks to come in. I say yes. Then she asks to spend her money. The rules are when she gets money, she can spend it on whatever she wants or needs. I don’t pick her stuff out for her. Then after the Christmas stuff got spent, her birthday comes along, which means another large assortment of toys, money and gifts cards. Well today I had a melt down. I don’t know if I was tired,frustrated, hormonal or what, but her attitude, the whole “I don’t have to listen to you” and the mess in her room and disregard for her toys, made me cry.
Here goes the new rules. She is no longer allowed food, drinks or treats in her room. After finding chips under her bed, juice boxes and chocolate in her bed and juice box straws along with wrappers on her floor, she lost that privilege.
She must ask permission to take toys out and play with them. Where as before she could just help herself. Since she no longer likes to put her toys away, leaves her DSi games laying all around, broke arms and legs off her MH dolls, and lost a bunch of pieces to board games we can’t find, this is so that doesn’t happen again. She can take out a toy, play, put it back, and get a new one. No more floor, top bunk, bottom bunk, living room and kitchen full of toys.
Anything that involves markers, paints or crayons must be used in the kitchen. Before I didn’t care. She could color where ever and whenever…UNTIL, she started leaving her markers laying around with no tops on, which she just recently started doing and falling asleep with markers in her bed and waking up multicolored and with multicolored bedding.
No toys allowed in the living room. That room is for everyone. Not her toys. No toys allowed in the kitchen unless its marker/paint/mess related like playdoh and stuff.
Once she starts to appreciate her belongings again and take care of her stuff, she will gain the opportunity to have treats and drinks in her room as well as being able to use multiple toys at a time.
So with those rules, I hope her treatment of her things greatly improves. Wish me luck. xFingersCrossedx
I was walking through the grocery store the other day looking at the Valentine’s Day candy when I saw conversation hearts. I wrinkled my nose because I immediately imagined the chalky taste associated with them. I guess it depends on your taste, but I’m not wild about them. So, I decided to make conversation magnets for Valentine’s Day instead. They are useful and cute!
Things You Will Need:
The Adventures of Jenna and Neil 