Wednesday, June 28, 2006

So frustrating!

I have NO IDEA how im going to handle a newborn and my daughter together if Kaylee keeps behaving how she is, im trying SO hard with her, we are doing so much more than normal, and so many new things too, i was hoping that this will keep her from being bored, but noooooo, i have her enrolled in the local kindy, and she should start before 2 years 6mths, but that gives me about 6 mths of tearing my hair out!

Kaylee is a sweet child, i love her so so much, she is generally such a good girl, but (someone PLEASE tell me its a phase and they grow out of it quick!!) she is just so damn clingy! and totally misbehaves when we are out! i dont know what to do when we are out, because she completely ignores what i say, and you cant really do "time out" in a busy shopping mall! the screaming is LOUD and the kicking her legs and flinging her arms around is just ridiculous, i usually have her in the stroller, and if im not on my own, the other person (usually Darryl, today mum) helps her walk around, because i really cant chase after her, im too pregnant and blardy sore at the moment (back, arms, legs, stomach, bum, you name it, i hurt!) i KNOW she is frustrated at something, but i dont know what, because of course, she cant talk, and all we can work out is that she wants to run away and have someone chase her, ahhhh, not going to happen! i LOVE shopping, its a fave hobby of mine, but it almost brings me to tears the thought of me going somewhere on my own with her, because i KNOW she will misbehave, i dont want to be giving her sweets, because i try to avoid them anyway, and really, she should behave without them, and what happens when there are no more? more tantrums!

i should clarify, i dont go shopping like i used to when she was new, i used to be able to get out for a couple or few hours at a time, and be able to take my time, and wander around nicely, now i know she is older and try to be half an hour tops with her in the stroller, otherwise she walks (like i say with Darryl usually) and we can continue shopping. but its usually just me... and its getting hard!!!!

but its not only at the shops where im having problems, visiting people is becoming a huge issue too, we went and finally saw Kate and family today, much overdue and SO MUCH looked foward to, and met Natalia for the first time, poor Amelia was looking forward to playing with Kaylee SO much, and what did my daughter do? not only snobbed poor Amelia, but everytime Amelia went up to her "play?" Amelia would say, Kaylee would cry, and this is what Kaylee is doing, everytime she isnt getting what she wants, or everytime we are at someone elses house, (keep in mind that im not talking strangers here, she has grown up with Amelia over the last 2 years) she does this, she will not play with the other child, she will not even be civil to the other child, and it is SO embarressing, all i want is to go out and talk to the other adult, and have proper conversation, but i spend most of my time dealing to my daughter and her tantys, because that is what they are, she isnt upset, she is just being naughty! and i am SO STUCK at what to do! the first time it happened was about a month ago at a friends house, and i just put it down to Kaylee being tired, which she was, but it has happened EVERY time we have gone out since, so she misbehaves when we visit friends, she misbehaves when we go shopping, and she is extrememly clingy at home, everytime i want MY TIME i dont usually get it and im hating it! i really dont know what to do and get VERY upset about it, as much as i love Kaylee, im really starting to resent her for it.

At home she is having her day sleep less and less, which she does NEED every day, and i NEED her to have, i need that hour or two of peace, whether its to eat, or to read, or to do the blog thing, i NEED it, but for the last 2 years i have spent 100% of my time with Kaylee being mummy and i need to get back to being CARLA some of the time too, i need my identity back, i cannot eat without Kaylee helping herself with my food, i cannot go to the loo on my own, i cannot watch what i want on TV, when im online, im usually typing with 1 hand because i have Kaylee on my knee, the tantrums are becoming unbearable (when she doesnt get what she wants) and i end up locking her in her bedroom, but then im so stressed i cannot appreciate that little bit of time out that putting her in her bedroom gives me. and the grizzling for no reason, is just so ongoing!! i just dont have a clue where to go from here, its just getting too full on for me to handle, and shes not even 2 yet! apart from keeping up with timeout and continuing to stick to my guns (dont get me wrong, even though she wants it all, she does not get it, i do not let her rule my house, i am the parent, i am the adult, and i am in charge) what else do i do?? negotiation does not work, she doesnt understand it, i do try it, but she really has no idea what im trying to tell her, things like star charts etc, she is still too young for too, she has no idea how "cool" a sticker is or a stamp, argh its just so frustrating because all of a sudden im just so lost, i thought i had it down pat! now i dont have a friggin clue!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

anyway, Natalia is of course absolutly gorgeous, Kate is looking stunning, she is so slim and just glowing and SO proud of her beautiful family, Joe is being a fantastic Dad, taking it VERY seriously and doing a great job, and Amelia is a beautiful big sister, just adores Natalia, it was wonderful to see!

i got 127 photos of out honeymoon printed today, ive booked in for Scrapbooking classes again and will start next wednesday, i am VERY much looking foward to doing something for ME again, on my own, without any kids! ive been putting it off because they go so late, but the time has come where i will just have an early night the next night, i need to get out, and im desperate to get my wedding album done and finished. call it my way of nesting! i cant bend down far enough to clean out the cupboards! lol

im slowly getting around the house washing the inside of the windows, very slowly! lol hopefully they (well the insides, im too sore to do the outsides!) will all be nice and clean in time for Kaylees birthday!

so a bit of this and a bit of that going on, yes i am very hormonal, and very tired, but im still me. Sometimes just being me, just doesnt happen....

6 comments:

Karen said...

Hun - no advice from me since I still have all of that to look forward to!!! But just wanted to say *big hugs* and I do hope that someone will be able to give you some guidance and advice and that Kaylee does eventually settle down.

Crafty Japan said...

Dear god - you are in trouble...

Do any of your family have any advice maybe?

Emily Campbell - Independent Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator said...

LOL, is there a Supernanny over here in NZ???

Seriously, do you think she is already jealous of your bump? Like Karen, I will be useless at advice since I still have all these joys ahead of me, but my only thought is that she knows she only has a limited time left before she stops being the only child, so she is trying to get as much attention as she can.

Hope you do get some good advice though, sounds like a tough time!!

Hi said...

Oh Carla! Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time with Kaylee! I agree with the others that she is probably just trying to act up because she knows she won't be the only child anymore. You will be fantastic as a mum to two wee girls and Kaylee will eventually settle down.
Awesome about going to a scrapbooking class! I did one a while back and love doing my scrapbooking! Keep your chin up! Lou

Kate said...

Hehe, thanks for your lovely comments - it was so nice to see you!!

I'm sure it is just a stage because she is a lovely girl and she has been brought up well. It's so frustrating and hard, I know. Amelia has been doing similar things when we go to the shops especially, and I've found the only thing that works is distraction. As soon as she starts to scream etc I try and divert her attention to something else and ignore the screaming. It's soooo hard though, and as you said, bloody embarrassing! It's surely just the age they are at?!! I hope!!

I feel like Amelia needs more time with other kids her own age, and I need more time with my friends so I think if we can both manage it we should try and do more together, where they can actually interact with each other. Even if we just get 5-10 minutes of quality play or interacting out of them it's worth it.

I guess it's all about perservering, and ignoring it when you can.

Big hugs, it's so hard being a Mum sometimes, and so easy at other times.

xxxx

Anonymous said...

Oh you poor girl, it is so hard when they decide to play up for no apparant reason. You are doing really well with how you are coping. Being consistant & not giving into her is really important. What Kate said about distraction works really well. next time you have to go to the shops, write a list & give her a job to do, get her to help choose the fruit & count it into the bag with her. Get her to help you find her favourite cereal or give her the choice of two things e.g bananas or kiwifruit. You are a good Mum & it will sort itself out.