Need help with DD5

[Twolittlebears]

I really need advice about my DD. She's 5 years old and both very sassy and very emotional. When I say sassy - it often tips into rudeness. Yelling at me. Refusing to do as I ask etc.
I'm finding this a very tricky combination. Whenever I tell her off for doing something she shouldn't she starts crying and saying "you don't love me". I don't know how to discipline her effectively without making her feel unloved. But I have to as she still throwing tantrums in public when she doesn't get her own way.

I'm starting to worry that there might be something wrong. Anyone else experience this? Or have any advice for me?

I’d say very firmly ‘I do love you but XYZ was unacceptable’ and continue with discipline. At 5 she’s probably learned that saying that is something you respond to in the way she wants you to and this encourages her to keep saying it every time you try and tell her off. I’d try that first and rule out anything being wrong after.

Thank you @BlueMoon1103 I will try that. Is this something you've experienced with DC?

Not my own DC (my DS is only 6 months old!) but I work with children and have experienced it with them and parents asking for help with children saying similar things and that’s the approach that works most commonly.

She’s so clever she’s playing you.

As others have said you love the child, you just don’t like the behaviour, which is not acceptable and needs nipped in the bud. Especially if you use a naughty step or corner, as dragging a misbehaving, heavy eight year old repeatedly back there is hard physical work. Better to get this nipped in the bud now while you can lift her there (if you use this method, fair enough if you prefer another method).