Tips for dealing with possibly hormonal girls!

[happynightmare]

Please, I need advice from those of you who have been through this and survived....

My dd is 9 and is becoming more and more stroppy by the day. I don't know if this is too early for hormones to be kicking in, but whatever it is, she's driving us all crazy.

Nothing is right, she hates everything, including me and dh and her younger siblings, and likes to tell us so a lot. She uses a bored, sarcastic voice to talk to us all, rolls her eyes, huffs and puffs, argues, slams doors etc. I suppose this is all "normal" in a way but I'm not sure of the best way to deal with the arsey behaviour without ruining our relationship in the process. I have a feeling that coming over all confrontational and authoritative isn't the best way, but I also want her to know we don't like her behaviour and attitude.

She was a really stroppy stubborn toddler then we seemed to have a few easy-ish years when she learned some self-control, but now sometimes it feels like the second round of toddler years.

Please help! Thanks.

I was a horrible teenager so here's my advice:

1. Find a rare moment when she isn't in a mood and see if there is anything wrong at school. I was bullied horrendously and I took it out on everyone at home. No one asked if I was ok and I wasn't volunteering that information, so nothing ever got done.

2. If she is just being horrid, you and your DH need to sit her down and tell her straight out that her behaviour is not acceptable. Use taht time to state the boundaries and what will happen if she crosses them. You could also combine this with (1).

3. Resist the temptation to be drawn into arguments or screaming matches. If she slams a door/has an attitude squiggle, deal with the behaviour then and there and move on. Chances are she will feel bad about it later, even if she doesn't say so. Having a full-on argument will make it harder for her to move past the behaviour and be nice again.

4. If all else fails and she is having a really stroppy, horrid day when she won't be ncie to you or anyone else, confinement to her room is the the last step. Give her 30 mins to calm down then go and talk to her. If she has spent that time working herself up even more, give it another 30 mins. Don't forget (3).

5)A hug is appreciated. As are mum + daughter dates and chats over ice cream.

I hope that helps! Good luck

Typing awful, sorry.