storbarnsförälder

Or you know, let's not. This is a whinge post.

The day got off to a slow start, mainly due to Linnea being as cooperative as a cranky rock, so we didn't have time for lunch before we left the house AND we arrived in town too late to see the pancake race. The staff in M&S messed up checking out our sandwiches (which were at the top end of my preferred budget before the mess-up, so I made them fix it). We got to John Lewis and Linnea was incredibly annoying while we were trying to fit her for new shoes. And then she started running away inside the shop, and refusing to wash her hands, and things. She got a final warning after we went to the cafe and we went and chose things for them to eat, and the girls sat at a table to wait while I paid, and I saw someone from a nearby table go to speak to them, and looked, and Linnea was spreading salt all over the table.

And she'd had her final warning, so that was that, we left.

The woman who spoke to her (who was concerned that she'd get salt in her eyes) apologised a lot but I didn't have time or peace to handle her - I just repeated "It's not your fault, it's hers, she was warned," and chased after Linnea, who had screamed and run away crying.

I had really, really, really wanted that cup of tea. But the deliberate misbehaviour had been escalating all day.

So then we had to walk home because she was too loud and cranky to bring on a bus, and it took until we actually reached the end of her street for her to feel like apologising and asking for my apology (she apologises for being naughty, I apologise for being very cross, and then we're friends). In the interim she ran away, sat still and screamed, shouted "You're the naughty one! You hafta do what I say!" and so on.

I really, really wanted that cup of tea.

At one point she picked up a stick from a tree in the graveyard and charged at me with it. And she twice ran away around corners; I had to drop my handbag so that I could pick Emer up and chase after her. I'm luck to have arrived home with my wallet and my keys.

I really wanted that cup of tea.

She tried to persuade me that because she said sorry we could go back again. It almost worked, except that mid-argument she ran away around a corner. In a busy town centre. While I had my hands full. That's just completely not allowed.

I want that cup of tea. I think I'll have it now.

She's much nicer now.

I've been reading back posts about Linnea when she was Emer's age, and it's amazing how many people suggested stickers, praise, and bribes to help handle some of the disciplinary stuff. Having met Emer, I can kind of see why - that would probably work, for Emer.

For Linnea, very little works, in terms of bribery. If a bribe is offered of anything she feels she can live without - which is most things - she will go to great lengths to un-earn it, to prove she doesn't need it; she will also sneak around and get it by nefarious means. Twice I've had to go nuclear on the threats-of-consequence, too - once when my mother was over, and again today. Generally, I count to three, and it is all sorted out. That's much more pleasant.

Emer can be bribed. It's much easier. I only hope it lasts. But I have no idea how to make it happen - she's always been very compliant, except in re oral interference - I can't tie it to anything we do to, with or for her. Well, when I say very compliant, I mean in comparison to Linnea, really.

Halp. Send gin.