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9yo DD ruined new bedroom wall

53 replies

peeriebear · 19/02/2011 18:54

DD1 is 9 and has always had a temper and little impulse control, coupled with a complete disregard for consequences.
The most recent thing has been shouting "FINE!!", storming up the stairs and slamming her bedroom door. She shares with DD2 (4) and now DD2 has started copying this exactly. I warned DD1 that if she didn't stop slamming the door I would take it off the hinges. Predictably the warning had no effect and I took the door off yesterday.
She then scrawled in huge letters across her newly painted wall
I CANT SLEEP WITHOUT MY DOOR!!
And just to make sure, she even went over it again in a darker pen so it stood out. I didn't see it until this morning.
(For the record she slept very soundly last night and was flat out.)
She knows how hard I have worked to get their bedroom looking nice, it involved stripping the whole room of woodchip, patching/skimming the walls and repapering, painting, new pictures, new curtains etc. I had plans for her side of the room (bed canopy, new shelves, new lights) and she knew all this. I had even drawn her a plan of how it would look and she was excited. Now I can't even speak to her, I am so angry and disappointed.
I don't know what to do now. Any thoughts anyone? I am so sick of banging my head against a brick wall with her :(

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CameronCook · 19/02/2011 23:46

At 9yo she is plenty old enough to get scrubbing, sanding and painting to put right the damage that she has done.

DS was a nightmare during the early puberty years - emotional, explosive, defiant, aggressive etc etc but having come through the other side is a much calmer nicer child - don't get me wrong he still has the odd teen strop but nowhere near as bad as that time.

Only two years til DD gets there though

thejaffacakesareonme · 20/02/2011 20:27

Just an idea, but would it be possible to give her an outlet for her frustration? I had my moments as a teenager and playing the piano got me through it. I'd thump my way through whatever dismall tune took my fancy that day. Whilst an instrument may not be suitable with neighbours would a new sport / physical activity or something expressive like art be a possiblility?

HattiFattner · 20/02/2011 20:50

our daughter did this. with my lipstick. We just left it for a year. She had to entertain her wee friends in there, with her handiwork for all to see.

We did not make her scrub it (initially), we did not put the door back on, she had to live with the daily reminder of her lack of control.

When we eventually redecorated (only after her brothers rooms had been done) we made it clear that she would have to live with any further vandalism, that the room would not be redecorated if she decided to ruin it again. She then had to scrub off her handiwork, so that I could redecorate. It kept it fresh in her mind why we were redecorating and gave her a stake in making her room look nice again.

I think if you redecorate too quickly, you effectively give her permission to do it again.

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