I would value everyone's comments on this dilema I'm now in, whether good or bad, please.
I have two dds. One is 9yrs old, the other is almost 4yrs old.
The 9yr old has started to have real attitude problems. She hasn't been well over the last few weeks but with plenty of TLC and Dr/Hosp help she is now much better. She developed IBS after a dreadful few weeks with a sickness bug.
Anyway she is, imo, being absolutely vile towards me and dh. She doesn't like it if she can't get her own way and tonight she flatly refused to do something that I'd asked her to do and was quite nasty about it. I try my absolute hardest to ignore her when she is being like this. Yesterday she went into one of her moods over something else and stomped off. She slams doors. She shouts. She snatches from her sister. All in all there are moments when I could quite easily give her up. She will answer me back. Then there are times she can be lovely.
I told her last night, after her moody episode, that she should be grateful for what she has because there are a lot of kids that are worse off. After spending a good half hour talking to her about it she apologised and went to bed happy. Then we get it all over again today.
I threatened them both (youngest dd hasn't been angel today either) that if they both played up or answered me back or were simply lacking respect for either me or dh I would cancel Christmas ....and you could say that I have because I have just thrown the Christmas tree out the back door. They have both been put to bed and both are fast asleep.
Now what do I do? I know it sounds really cruel that I have followed through with my threat but quite honestly I have had enough. The one thing I can't handle is a complete lack of respect for me and DH which DD1 has really shone through with over the last few days. I know kids get excited over Christmas etc but that isn't an excuse for their behaviour, is it?
Please can anyone give me some ideas of what to do? I am at a loss. Sorry. .... I'm getting ready for the nasty comments as well as perhaps a few positive ones. xx