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11/15/05

7:55 PM: I had a good day at home with Sophie today. She's been looking forward to her dance class all day. The girls and I had a nice dinner out before class. Both girls enjoyed their classes and did well. For a lot of the activities in Sophie's class, the little girls stand in a line and each one marches across the room, or sashays, or tumbles, etc. Today, Sophie was the first girl in the line, so she did everything first. She was really excited about that. Elisabeth and Sophie were wearing matching leotards and looked really cute.

Today's cute Sophie story: when it was time for her nap, I laid down in our bed with her, and she had her back turned to me at first. She flipped over and said, "Let me turn over so I can see your beautiful eyes!" Today's not-so-cute story: Elisabeth was trying to practice piano just now, and Sophie was standing next to her, hitting the keys. All I could hear was, "Sophe, stop! Sophie, stop!" I went in there and told Sophie she either needed to sit in the chair and listen to Elisabeth or leave the room. She didn't do either one--just looked at me and said, "Mama, you're going to make me mad!" Randall (who just came home) came in and calmly said, "Sophie this is one of those times when you need to say 'Yes, mama' and do what we say. You choose the chair or leave." She stood there a bit longer and then slowly walked out and began to cry her little eyes out. She just doesn't like it when she doesn't get her way. I don't know if this is typical, or if we let her get away too much while she was on steroids and are now paying the price. We're trying to be calm but firm in these situations, but it certainly is tempting to give in so we can get some peace and quiet!

Comments

I think it is normal, and you handled it perfectly! This is the age when kids begin testing limits (the testing lasts until adulthood....or longer!), so it is good to establish early on what is appropriate and not, so that she can learn. It will help keep peace at home, but also when she is away from home. If she did something like this to her peers at school on a regular basis she would not be very popular, so it is important for her to learn now.