Rebel dd (3) is stressing me out!

[alittleteapot]

DD is a lovely, bright and VERy spirited little girl. She was pretty difficult from 2 and a half to 3.2 then seemed to become a lot more cooperative - tantrums subsided - reason seemed to work better. BUT just lately she's turned into a bit of a brat. Yesterday for example she continued to try and touch a lightbulb (actually it was cold but that wasn't the point) despite me explaining why this was something that was totally out of bounds because it could be very dangerous. In the end I took her to her rooma nd she had a massive tantrum - I kept her there till she calmed down then she came back in and tried to touch the light bulb again.

Then, last night, she WOULD NOT go to sleep. Bedtimes are tricky historically and I've been advised on here bfore that I just have to be firm. I TRY!!! I really do. But last night at 9.30 she got up and said she was NOT tired and was NOT going to go to bed. SO wwhat do you do??? I was particularly tired as 16mo ds has been ill all weekend whic I'msure was contribtuing to her behaviour.

Just going through a phase of wondering if I'm doing things wrong and am creating a monster or if this is all normal stuff I just have to ride.

Help?

Sounds normal to me, do you or DH dislike bed? my DH still sleeps downstairs!! Yr DD prob. dislikes being TOLD; let her feel the heat from a bulb after it's just switched off. Try to chill a bit!!

Snap! My DD (3.7) is sometimes what I would call a "brat". Purposely disobeys and saying not tired when she clearly is. I find it's often attention seeking - she usually acts up when she doesn't have my undivided attention. And, a bit of exploring where boundaries lie. I tend to be very firm and like you, remove from situation. With bedtimes, I just tell her that it's nightime and she needs to lie down with eyes clOsed even if not tired. If she gets up I just put het back in bed and threaten to turn off light and close her door - she hates this. Though sometimes I do think she's genuinely not tired because we've stayed in all day, and I cave in which leads to problems for several nights after ... That's when DH had to do bedtimes as I just don't have the strength
anyway, good to know it's not just my DD who us like this. Hopefully, it's just a short phase as other "difficult" periods have been.

Yes, she hates being told. Yes think you're right. tricky abou tbedtime though as we end up dragging her out in the morning. dp is a bit of a night owl so maybe she's inherited that from him. I on th eohter hand am a nine hour girl who's had to survive on a lot less since children.

if i put light off and close door big tantrum. trickier because she shares room with ds... it's the hardest one to be clever about because by then we're all dog tired!

Think a little out of the box IYKWIM let her sleep downstairs!! i bet she'll hate it!!

Yes I think the chill out thing is important. it's when she knows she's winding you up she gets on a roll and I get a bit lost. What tends to work with her is to educate educcate educated about how we do things (not at the moment we're NOT doing them as at that moment it's a lost cause) and then remind her at the moment of deviation but leave the responsibilty with her, as you say.

Camomile is good for relaxing at bedtime for you all (I sympathise with the lack of sleep!). IMO she's developing her own personality and it's important to appreciate that.