Strong heels

As I write this entry, my 3 1/2 year is contemplating life up in her bed.  Over the past week, she has regressed a little bit with some of her behaviors.  I am leaning towards it being a growth spurt, as this has happened two other times in her short life so far.

She has started biting again and, unfortunately for the first time, it has gone outside of the family.  She bit her BFF Chloe yesterday.  You know the one.  The one year old across the street whom Becca just adores?  The one she "smothers" to the point of driving Chloe crazy with her love?  The one whom she has named her own baby doll after because she thinks Chloe is the coolest person on earth?  Yes.  Out of all the people on the planet she would bite, I figured Chloe would be the last.  She has also starting biting good old reliable sister too.

And then there is the hitting part.  She hauled off and hit me when I punished her for biting her sister.  What is a mother to do?  She is definitely not doing it out of malicious intent.  She is just such and intense little person and sometimes the actions come out before the words.

Anyway, today I took her baby Chloe away from her until bedtime as her punishment.  She did not like this one little bit. (hence the hitting Mommy part) And to that I say, "Good!  That is the point.  If you don't want me to take her again, stop biting."

So, I am tucking her into bed tonight with Chloe wrapped up close beside her.  I tell her that I love her with my whole heart and she comes out with, "Mommy.  I wish I was Emma."  I said, "Oh, honey.  Why do you say that?"  Her answer to that was "because it is hard being me.  I am the only person in the family that digs my heels in and it gets me into a whole lot of trouble."

At which point I bust out laughing on the inside.  Why you might ask?  Because I was exactly the same way when I was a kid.  And unfortunately for her, so was her Daddy.  So, I picked her up and snuggled her in my lap and proceeded to tell her how much I love her and reassured her that when she gets to be a grown-up her stubbornness is going to be a wonderful trait to have.  I also reassured her that I was exactly like she is when I was little, so that I know what she is feeling like.

So, now I sit and try to come up with some new strategies to help her cope with her strong heels.  Because they are VERY strong with all that digging in she is doing.  It is hard being little.  Boy do I love that kid!!!!!!