Addison is currently sleeping through her play date. Well, if she didn’t wake up at the crack of dawn she might not be so tired and intolerant at 2:30. So, Grace is upstairs playing webkinz while my child is asleep in my bed. I normally put her in a specific kitchen chair and set a timer when she needs a time out. She HATES time out. I usually have to leave the kitchen when she is in time out or we will have major issues. I have a problem…yes I argue with my 7 year old. She can’t keep her mouth shut and stop the “Addie-tude”, and I can’t keep from letting it escalate into horrible yelling chaotic horrible-ness. So therefore, I leave the room and she can fidget and cry and complain all she wants as long as her butt doesn’t leave the chair and I am all “Oh and yes I WILL know if you leave that chair young lady!”

She still believes me when I tell her stuff like that because I caught her sneaking 2 “ganilla” bars once (granola bars) and I wasn’t even in the same room with her. She asked me how I knew and I said because I am the Mommy and it’s my job to know EVERYTHING. I know that this will bite me in the ass later because she will get away with something and figure out that I don’t really know it all. But in the meantime I say stick with what works.

She and Grace had been outside playing and when they came in all sweaty to get some toys Grace said that it was too hot and she didn’t want to go back out. Well, Addison stomped her feet and groaned really angry loud almost growling. I tried to diffuse the situation and asked Grace to go upstairs and please excuse us. I got down on my knees and looked her in the eyes and spoke very softly and sweetly.

“Addison tell me why you are so upset”

“BECAUSE (sob sob) I NEVER get to play outside that much and (sob sob) I NEVER get to play with GRAAAAACE or ANYBODY ELSE and she won’t PLAAYYYY with me (sob sob)”

After this she collapsed on the floor and continued sobbing.

First of all she usually plays outside from the moment she finishes breakfast (mostly in her pajamas and flip flops) until lunchtime. She takes her little pink iPOD shuffle and her Hannah Montana headphones and swings and swings and swings. So that part about never playing outside was ridiculous.

Secondly we have a standing Thursday play date with Grace and since it’s summer we have bumped it up to twice a week. She also gets to play with my friend Sara’s boys Jonah and Nathan pretty often. So that other part about never getting to play with anyone is a crock of sh*&%$#.

I told her to go to my bedroom and not to come out until the oven timer went off. She would not go in there. I sort of chased her around the house until finally she went in and I swear she was having an absolute conniption about being in there.

Still sobbing “I will stop crying and go upstairs!” then yelling “I DON”T WANT TO BE IN HERE!”

I am actually pretty surprised that she stayed in there. I set the timer for 15 minutes. I usually set it for 7 (her age) but she seemed like she needed more than 7 minutes to calm down. When the timer went off I was surprised she didn’t come running out to go play, and I thought maybe she had quietly escaped to go play upstairs. While I was walking down the hall I was thinking that if she wasn’t in there I just didn’t know how I could contain my anger. Well, she was in there. She has turned down the bed and actually gotten under the covers. She looked so sweet and peaceful and I didn’t even care that I am going to have to make up the bed again. I closed the door and smiled to myself and that was like 45 minutes ago. I knew she was tired, and that was why she was acting like a demon child. So that just proves that I really do know what is best for her. If only I could convince her of that.

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