Aaaaggghh! Bad attitude.

[missmoopy]

I have posted about this countless times but so need to vent and feel some Mumsnet love!
My dd (5 and 3/4) is a delightful, funny, clever girl but she goes through phases of having the worst attitude possible. She talks to me with such a sneer, like I am a bit of crap and it really upsets/angers me.
I have talked to her about it, she apologises and then 5 mintutes later it happens again.
My dh and I had a rough patch over last 12 months and probably haven't been talking to each other with the respect we should so I do understand that she is mirroring how we have behaved, and we have stopped this now as sorted stuff out and also realised effect of dd. BUT how do I stop her having such a crappy attitude? I have tried naughty step, ignoring her, not talking to her when she is horrid.....any suggestions/hugs gratefully received!

I know where you are coming from. and I hate to say but my DD is now 7 and the atitude gets worse, it's them testing the water and thinking they know better.

We have now progressed onto lying, so evil mother that I am said no sweets (we'd just arrived at cinima and I couldn't punish my younger child). It has worked so far today.

Mine DD also apologises and then 5 minutes later the same. We have copied the school system, where they start off with their name on the sunshine picture and either go down the rainclouds (different forfeit for each level) or go up the rainbow, pot of gold to the moon and stars.

It's soul destroying but a battle of the wits as to who will give up first. IMO Stay strong, walk away to another room and ignore . hope it gets better.

Forgot to say please vent, we all need to and heres a hug

Thankyou MrsPurple, today she is being a little sweetie so just enjoying it!
I like the sunshine picture idea a lot - do you move them once a day or is it a frequent thing throughout day?
I mostly cope with her attitude and if I look back I am sure my ability to cope diminishes around time i have PMT!

My DD (nearly 8) is exactly the same-talks to me like I'm a piece of poo on her shoe!
Will watch with interest for any suggestions.
MrsPurple-think you're right-got to stay strong and not let them see it's getting to you.

The Sunshine chart can move around during the day, as I started with it moving down only and found if there was no upward move for good behaviour it had the opposite effect after being moved to warning cloud.

Basically cloud 1 is: you've been warned.
Cloud 2: 5 minutes time out
Cloud 3: 10 minutes loss of acticvity ( I use TV)
Cloud 4: Off to bedroom
Cloud 5: No TV next day (or activity of your choice).

Upwards is Rainbow, Pot of Gold = sticker
Stars, moon = treat

It has to move during the day and whereever it is at the end of the day (if upward ) is the end result.

Miss Moopy glad your day was enjoyable - I actually got the DD's to do the pictures and then laminated them so they fully understood. They did their names laminated and stick on with blue tack. I also make them move them so they are fully aware of where they are up to.

I sound like the perfect Mum, but I have horrendous days with my youngest and must take my own advice and remain strong - so hard though !