Monday, February 15, 2010

olive's destructive phase


im unsure whether olive is going through a phase, having a hard time adjusting to the new apartment, new puppy, or what but she is grating on my already raw nerves with her destruction. yesterday's incident included one of my favorite lipsticks covering every available surface of our bathroom before turning the stick onto my silk duvet from anthropologie. i almost spit nails i was so angry. olive is hard to discipline. or maybe it is that i am so accustomed and in tuned with augustine's language (which mirrors my own, go figure) that i have trouble getting out of that headspace. if you so much as make a disapproving face at my 4 yr old he will snap into the most obedient child you're likely to meet. olive on the other hand you have to get much more gritty with to figure out what makes her tick, what currency is necessary to deny in order to get the behavior you seek from her. and uhh if anyone can figure her out ill treat you to dinner.

also, both kids are sick - olive with croup at least. she is about 2 days behind augustine's sickness and has it worse than her brother. last night, on top of the dog waking david and i oh, every two hours, olive was barking like a seal in her sleep. it was undeniably sad. such is the life of a parent i guess. they've both been down for a nap for 4 hours now

10 comments:

Matt said...

I've heard good things about putting a ticking clock next to the puppy's crate. Jamie and I didn't have one, so we used a noise machine (ocean waves) and it worked wonders with our first puppy. He slept wonderfully until the CD stopped.

John McCollum said...

It's probably a good idea to tell her that she's sick because she's been a bad girl. That'll mess her up good.

Olive said...

matt - that's so interesting that you say that because the head master at augustine's preschool told me the exact same thing! i'd never heard that before. i will definitely keep it in mind now

john - you have no morals nor internal monologue. regardless, you are one of my favorite people :)

Judy said...

Your theory's on why she is being a stinker seems pretty right on. Changes aren't as easy for kids as we think. She will come around! You have good kiddos.

indesignguy said...

olive has what's generally known as "second child" syndrom. the cure is completely unknown.

michelle rigsby said...

i had to read to my sister what you wrote about the difference between olive/auggie with parenting.. it's just like saylor and my niece emily.. i'm like 'what, time outs don't work for emily? saylor is so scared straight and apologizing afterward' emily is immune to them, just continues to scream afterward or ignores the fact she's being punished.. and i just keep thinking i'll have a daughter like them and while it's awesome [hi potty training, dressing yourself, not scared of going to class]... i'm not prepared and not sure how to handle it aaack!

Anonymous said...

how old is your girl? it's a phase. she's had a lot of changes in her little world. what she needs right now is all the consistency from her parents that she can get. be firm. be fair. and be confident in your parenting abilities. :) she'll thank you for it some day.

Olive said...

anonymous - she will be 3 in april

michelle - i swear you will be shocked at how different yet the same your kids will be. it's like one big freaky biology/genetic experiment!

Anonymous said...

This is my first visit here, but I will be back soon, because I really like the way you are writing, it is so simple and honest

lauren. said...

i've heard good things about dr. dobson's book the strong-willed child. also, i think anon's advice to be fair & firm is perfect.

if it's any consolation, i was that "strong-willed child" growing up, & my sweet little brother was never as stubborn & destructive as i. but i grew out of it once i was old enough to really understand how it affected people.

she'll grow out of it. until then, though, i'll be praying for your sanity!