I'm at the end of my tether with DD, I don't know what to do for the best, if I do mornings and evenings it can be a nightmare. She won't do what I ask (get dressed, brush teeth - all with my help), it turns into a battle and negotiation, it's not usual for it to take an hour in the mornings to get everything done. I try negotiating e.g. if you don't brush your teeth by the time I count to 5 there's no telly for the rest of the morning etc. But it doesn;t work, we get to 3, she starts, then gaffs, then whinges, then the cycle starts again. When I try to brush her hair, she just lays down, moves round etc so I can;t do it. She says I hurt (I try not to but there are tangles), but won't let DH do it, who apparently has a magic brush and doesn't hurt. I've tried giving her choices over breakfast (do you want shreddies or toast?) or not giving her choices, but breakfast can still take forever. I've shouted, I've been calm, but nothing works.
I'm sick of the endless negotiations, the fact everything takes so long and can be such a battle, we both end up leaving the house in such a bad mood. She behaves beautifully for DH when he does mornings or evenings, I don't know why I'm getting such different behaviour. My mum and DH just say "just tell her to do it" but that has sod all effect, she just ignores me and or whinges.
I've tried walking away to get myself dressed and she just clings on to my dressing gown, I have been known to just take it off, but then she just hangs on to my leg.
I'm considering reward charts, do morning well for a week and there is a treat, do it badly and there is no telly in the evening for example. Any advice welcome, I don't know what to do
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.
Parenting
Help with 3yr 9 mo old, mornings and evening
3 replies
lobsters · 04/10/2012 10:23
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.