And how did I not know about it? Clearly I did though because Addison's behavior lately is a work of evil. You know how you watch that show Supernanny and think, "Holy crap! Those kids are so out of control. Even on a bad day, my kids are never that bad. Whew! This makes me look like a fabulous parent!" I used to do that. Now I watch that show and think, "How can I get Supernanny to come visit me? Those kids have got nothing on Addie." She our third child. You would think after having parented two other four year olds that we would have figured out a few tricks in dealing with them. We may have. We might be able to parent ANY OTHER FOUR YEAR OLD IN THE UNIVERSE, but this one is killing us. If she doesn't take a nap today, my head will explode. I apologize to whoever finds my body. It won't be pretty. The kicking, the hitting, the spitting, the running in parking lots, the kicking my seat back in the car, the yelling, the disrespect... it is getting to me, and getting me down. A few days ago, JC decided that she must be schizophrenic or manic depressive. He said, "I think she needs a therapist." I pulled out my trusty Touchpoints 3 to 6 book by T. Berry Brazelton because he is a parenting genius and has never let me down. I read about a four year old so out of control that her parents thought "she was hyperactive or even manic" and about another four year old whose eyes would glaze over as his mother spoke to him, and about a mother who wondered "why a four-year old could show sadistic behavior." All of that was somewhat comforting. It sounds like Addison is not outside the realm of normal four year old behavior, but all of Brazelton's suggestions for dealing with it are WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING. Brazelton, Super nanny, I need your help!
Being a parent the second and third times to a baby seemed like a breeze. We knew how to diaper them, bathe them, soothe them, swaddle them, how to work a carseat, and what to pack in a diaper bag. All those things that were so overwhelming with the first baby seemed like second nature with the next two.
This four year old thing though... it is like a big smack in the face (literally and figuratively). Where did this child come from? Brazelton talks a lot about temperament. We've always thought Addie and Nina were quite similar as they are both insanely stubborn. Nina is stubborn and cunning though. Addie is stubborn with the temperament of a wild honey badger (Guiness World Record title: most ferocious predator animal). It is a dangerous combination.
I love that girl. I really do, but if anybody has an in with Supernanny, will you please send her my way?
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