So, I've been having issues with my Keagan since the moment she turned 2. She's such a sassy little thing, and lately, it seems as though she can't make a good choice if her life depended on it. She is such an amazingly smart child, she hasn't given her school teacher any guff (except for the time she called a little girl at school, fat). So why does she always give me so much crap?
I've tried many forms of punishment with her, but nothing seems to work. The other day, she did something naughty and before I could say anything, she turned to me and said, "You can ground me, Mom, it's ok." She also likes to give me different ideas of what to take away when I ground her. Go figure. I've tried washing her mouth out with soap, spanking (I probably shouldn't admit that one), etc. etc. and the list goes on and on and on. Nothing I do seems to faze her. I've had friends tell me, "Take something away that's important to her." I've tried that one too. It doesn't work either. She always accepts her punishments well and is never defiant.
So yesterday, I had this bright idea that I would tell her she could go and live with someone else if she doesn't like the show I'm running. She thought that sounded like a fun idea. Tommy's little brother, Zach is FINALLY moving out on his own into one of Tommy's apartments in the ghetto downtown, so I thought maybe it would be a fun treat to go live with Uncle Snack. Thinking she would HATE that idea, she didn't think it sounded so bad. I personally couldn't think of anything worse!
When Tag caught wind of my little scheming, he said, "Mom, isn't that illegal? She's just a kid!"
"Yep, that's right," I said. "It's illegal, alright. But so is disobeying your mom." He was seriously distraught about the whole thing. So early this morning, I told Keagan that when she got home from school this afternoon, we'd pack up a little suitcase and head over to the Paradise Palms.
Well, Tommy said he would, in no way, have ANYTHING to do with this little scheme of mine. Of course, make me look like the bad guy!
Now, I know what you're all thinking. I'm the worst mother EVER! I just want to set the record straight, that I would never, never, never actually go through with this plan, let alone, make her move in with Uncle Snacky. Now that, in and of itself is child abuse alone! I am at my wit's end. You think I'm kidding about selling her on Ebay?
Well, we had a good little chat after school and hopefully it's all worked out. Hopefully.
Any advice for me???
P.S. Whoever comes up with the best answer gets an all-expense paid weekend at THEIR home with Keags.
20 comments:
The only advice I can give is to just hang in there. Keags is a sweet little girl underneath all the naughtiness. Someday you and Keags will be wonderful friends. Love you,
Mom
Ha we have all been there! It sounds like you need to find something she values more. Believe me, all kids have a button. My kids die if I take away the bedtime story. She might have to miss a birthday party, or something drastic like that.
If it will make you feel any better- Britt wanted to run away to the Kimballs because I was so horrible. I told her to take everything she could fit in her suitcase because I was selling the rest. She then realized that I wasn't so bad after all. They grow up so fast. Enjoy EVERY moment...and yes, they do grow out of that stage and turn into your best friends. Good luck!
Gunner was really bad when he was about 7. So after I couldn't take it any longer. He came home from school and I had stripped his room down to nothing....I MEAN NOTHING. Everything off his walls, toys, bed, put a pad lock on his closet. I left a blanket on the floor and that was it. Oh and a note to tell him things needed to change before he got anything back. Plus I grounded him for two weeks from friends, TV, computer. I made it pure living HELL. NOTHING FUN!
Within a month he had most of his stuff back by following our rules. It was hard for Craig and I but It worked. Good Luck! Love you! and yes YOU are a great mom. Gunner and Mazi would rather have you than me. THEY LOVE YOU!
I am so laughing! Are you getting your parenting idea's from Gabby (Desperate Housewives)? Actually, my Quincy is just like this. I truly have not found his "button" yet. I feel your pain sista!
Ah, Keags. Funny girl. I WISH I had advice. I feel like I'll never actually get to the point where I really know what I'm doing as a parent. The tricky part is that, even when you do figure out what works with one, it doesn't seem to work with the others. You are a great mother, and you guys will have funny stories to look back on and laugh about. Here's an idea...why don't you let her spank YOU and tell her that you need to be punished for your failings as a mother? That seemed to work well for Mom! Hee hee! I'll never forget that day when Mom handed you the wooden spoon and you got that crazy-happy look in your eyes and tore into her bum! She told me that idea didn't work out quite like she had planned. Ah, the good ol' days!
Kim
I'm not giving advice because I have some of my own that need a good lesson... I'm am writing to tell you that I die laughing every time that I read something you write. You are hilarious! Come over here and entertain me because I am fat and sloppy and need some more laughter. You are a riot. Good thing you keep me giggling!
I have a little girl just like that!
Try turning the tables -
If she catches you doing something naughty - she gets to decide your reward!
What works even better - play "Caught you being good" you can try catching each other doing good things with rewards such as hugs, a story, stickers, tiny treasures such as beads, rings, dollar store bribes...
my daughter gets into trouble when she has run out of things to do. I really had to rack my mind to come up with things to keep her busy - her favorite thing to do is help me clean...go figure!
BUT and it's a big BUT, it doesn't work 100% all the time. By the way I'm so jealous of your cliff diving and sand adventure.
oh keags! What a little stinker! Wish I had some great advice for ya- Bailey and I have our issues too. I just keep thinking what great friends we will be when she is grown and we can just be buds without her always fighting my authority. It sure does suck in the meantime though. That is why Heavenly Father made her so cute. You could always threaten to send her to live with me where we eat cold porridge every night for dinner. Look how skinny Bailey is, that should strike some fear into her.
I'd force her to endure Tommy's morning breath if she disobeys! I think that could just about break down anyone!
My Cody was like that from the time he turned 3 up until first grade. A friend of mine told me to to put vinegar on his tongue when he got sassy, but of course that backfired. He would actually go and get the bottle for me and say he was ready for it. He LIKED it! So, NOW what to do! I know it seems like FOREVER when you're going through it and like it's NEVER going to end, but...it finally does. We always focused on EVERYTHING positive that they would do and try to ignore the negative. Some days were VERY hard to find anything nice to say, but, he's a great good now. If you would have told me that then...I would have laughed. Hang in there!
We're up for a night out anytime! Let us know!
Have you tried processed cheese? Heave it out of her! I wish I had great words of advice but I will agree with Aubri who took everything away. I have heard that from a few people and it always worked.
I'm so glad you have a blog, it's so funny how you click on someones blog and end up finding someone else that you know! I miss our visiting teaching days. We should have a little play date with Rylee and Swayze!
Good thing I have boys (although Liam gives me a good share of drama!). Good luck, I have no idea. I still have to figure out how to get Liam to eat.
no clue for ya. My punky little girl is autistic so I get to use medicine as part of my arsenal. Know any doctors who would give it a try for you? :)
Sorry she's testing your patience...just remember your not alone...When Gabe's acting up or giving me grief I make him write and esay or list of why whatever he did was wrong and why he won't do it again. Then he has to read it to me. It makes him actually have to think about it, so he can write it down. Then I save them...because later it's actually is pretty funny. My favorite esay he wrote is called " why it's not funny to laugh when Lydia drinks out of the toilet" It's pretty hilarious.
My advise ,and it may not be popular with most, but I say you spank'em until they don't know what day it is. That's what my folks did and I learned when they told me to do something I did it or there were consequences. It really only took a couple of bouts for me to realize they mean business and then the threat was enough. Call me old fashion. Good Luck. Tell Tommy I think his sweet pose looks like "The Thinker", but more sexy. Hey, did you guys ever keep Tag involved with wrestling? He seemed to have a knack for it long ago?
Stone
I am so sorry Leigh! Did Angi ever tell you about how when Ben was younger he threatened to "run away"? So my dad told him to pack a suitcase, and then drove him to a deserted lot and took off. Just left him there!I think he left him there for 10 minutes and that was all it took. You gotta "scare" the little girl into being good! No, just kidding. I also like tha pproach of taking everything away and then they can earn it back.
Let her live with me for a week...she will come home screaming!J/K....No really.Tell her that she has to come and live with Shelley!And then bring her here.She would get so homesick.
I just thought that I would add....Keagan is the cutest,naughtiest,funniest,has the most funnest personality,is the cutest little wierdo and I love her so much!
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