Regression
Emily has regressed back to the days when she wanted nothing to do with me. For about 3 weeks now, she has refused to give me hugs and kisses, does not want to play with me, and sometimes tells me that she doesn’t love me. I know this is just a phase but it’s worth noting here.
Also worth noting is the ferocity of her tantrums of late. My mother said that she’d never seen anything like them before while Sondra’s mom says that Emily comes by them naturally. Hmm. So, where do you think she gets them from? :)
It is all just Emily feeling out her boundaries, specifically testing her limits of control. This morning she stood outside our bedroom door, screaming for mommy to come open the door. Now mind you the door is unlocked and Emily knew that she was free to open it and come in. However, she wanted Sondra to open the door for her as any good servant would. Needless to say, she stood there screaming until one of us had to leave the room. Sondra left first and closed the door behind her. Emily was not content that Sondra was now out of the room. She was still mad that no one had opened the door for her to enter. When I walked out about 5 minutes later, I swiftly picked Emily up who then began kicking as she was screaming even louder. I carried her to her room and told her that she was to stay there until she was done screaming. Emily, of course, had to immediately test this so she ran wailing for the door the second I set her down, not once but twice. After the second time of being swooped up and placed back on the bed, she knew I was serious. She emerged from the bedroom a minute of so later with a quivering lip and stuttered breathing but the screaming was gone.
This is a tough time for Emily and we all recognize it. At 3, she’s at a natural time to be testing her boundaries. Emily is also dealing with the arrival of a new baby and Sondra’s return to work. Yikes. That’s a lot and so we hug and kiss her as often as she will allow. We provided consistent discipline because ultimately, a child who knows his or her boundaries are not only there but are firm as well will feel safer and more secure in the long run. Just think, by the time Emily is done testing her boundaries; it will be Madison’s turn to start.
Also worth noting is the ferocity of her tantrums of late. My mother said that she’d never seen anything like them before while Sondra’s mom says that Emily comes by them naturally. Hmm. So, where do you think she gets them from? :)
It is all just Emily feeling out her boundaries, specifically testing her limits of control. This morning she stood outside our bedroom door, screaming for mommy to come open the door. Now mind you the door is unlocked and Emily knew that she was free to open it and come in. However, she wanted Sondra to open the door for her as any good servant would. Needless to say, she stood there screaming until one of us had to leave the room. Sondra left first and closed the door behind her. Emily was not content that Sondra was now out of the room. She was still mad that no one had opened the door for her to enter. When I walked out about 5 minutes later, I swiftly picked Emily up who then began kicking as she was screaming even louder. I carried her to her room and told her that she was to stay there until she was done screaming. Emily, of course, had to immediately test this so she ran wailing for the door the second I set her down, not once but twice. After the second time of being swooped up and placed back on the bed, she knew I was serious. She emerged from the bedroom a minute of so later with a quivering lip and stuttered breathing but the screaming was gone.
This is a tough time for Emily and we all recognize it. At 3, she’s at a natural time to be testing her boundaries. Emily is also dealing with the arrival of a new baby and Sondra’s return to work. Yikes. That’s a lot and so we hug and kiss her as often as she will allow. We provided consistent discipline because ultimately, a child who knows his or her boundaries are not only there but are firm as well will feel safer and more secure in the long run. Just think, by the time Emily is done testing her boundaries; it will be Madison’s turn to start.
posted by Net_Lemming | 9:56 AM
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