God grant me the serenity to accept my four year old,
The courage to deal with the tantrums
And the wisdom to know which battle to choose
But let me tell you about the f#%^ing fours. I've recently mentioned to a few moms that Emma is a 'little' unmanageable at the moment, at the age of four, and they've all agreed that hell hath no fury like a four year old.
Not too many people talk about it because it's as if your sweet child has been replaced by a doppelgänger. It's scary and it's horrible and it's like having satan's spawn in the house.
Two was a manageable age. Temper tantrums were 'easy' and disciplining was a walk in the park. Dealing with a feisty four year old is similar to a terrifying run in the woods, late at night with shadows and sounds and a haunted house your only refuge.
I've been told by my daughter, when I've said no to something, that she will no longer be my child. She now says things like 'if you let me do so and so I'll love you more' and 'if you don't let me do so and so I'm not going to give you cuddles'.
She has muttered under her breath 'you're stupid' when she's been reprimanded for something and turned 'you're silly and fat' into a song when asked to repeat what she just said. She has the sleeping habits of a teenager as well as the angst ridden existence of one. She slams doors (though it occasionally backfires when she needs to ask one of us to open the door for her cos the handle is stuck).
She tells us to leave her alone and shouts NO if asked to do something. She defiantly stares you down at times or rolls her eyes so far into he back of her head it looks as though she's been possessed.
Emma will ask a question and then argue with the answer or she just disagrees with everything I say. She pushes buttons I didn't even know I had. And she does it on purpose.
I understand it's a phase and I'm doing everything I can to manage it the best way I know. But sometimes that haunted house at the end of the scary woods seems like a great getaway.
Sounds super scary! I think I'll have to arrange to have a cuppa tea with you soon so that you can give me advice when I have a kidlet one day.
ReplyDeleteOh no please don't tell me that! We breezed through the terrible twos - but the threes! Oh dear me, and now you say it's going to get worse? I think whoever coined the phrase terrible twos had obviously not yet had a 3-or-4-year-old! Here's hoping it gets easier for us both :)
ReplyDeleteI can totally identify. I'm hoping this means she'll be a even tempered teenager but somehow doubt it.
ReplyDeleteWe had horrible threes and then it felt as if raising a child became a hell of a lot easier at 4. I guess they all have their moments - and hate to tell you that I am convinced that hormones kick in at around 8
ReplyDeleteOn our way to nearly 5, and also struggling! Phew! Glad to hear it is not only us. Nothing that makes you feel that you are missing the parenting boat, than this one!
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday she had a melt-down because I did not brush her teeth in circles! At 6 am in the morning! Dad had to go in for the rescue, and to brush the teeth in "circles!"
OH Melinda. Oh my word. You poor mother. Hahahaahaa though. It's easy for me to find the funny being the outsider. But if it makes you feel any better, my BFF often phones me at arb hours to tell me what little assholes my godchildren are being. She'll rant for a few minutes while she hides out in the toilet and that seems to help her.
ReplyDeleteI'm not even going to *try* and give you any advice. But I'm thinking of you and sending you love and super-sized strength.
xoxoxo
I hear you, sister. My four year old's favourite threat when I have the audacity to say "no" is "You can't have cake at my party." This morning took the cake (while we're on a metaphor roll) when I reprimanded him for touching the heater. I foolishly asked him if he wanted to burn himself or burn down the house. He told me he wants to burn down the house because I was rude to him and I am an idiot. Oy vey! Now a few hours later he gives me a star sticker because I am a star. For this second ... When you find out the secret to surviving the f&%$*@# fours, please let me know.
ReplyDeleteLorelai has already started and she is not even 4 yet! thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteoooooh I had to respond to this I thought I have done something wrong my 4year old is driving me insane.... Glad to know this sounds a bit normal. I was literally in tears yesterday at work after my terrible weekend with him.
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