For those of you with more than one kid, ever notice that when one is acting up, the other is striving for angelic perfection? Lately, Ceilidh has been testing the limits of parental patience (and then some). As she's crying and stomping her feet, as she's shouting "No" from the top of her lungs while kicking at whatever is in the way, refusing with the stubbornness of a mule to do anything you've asked of her (like take off shoes), Devlin is sitting quietly minding his own business. This morning, Ceilidh started her tantrum at the Walmart. Yep - we were one of "those" families with the screaming kid at the store. Why? Because I wouldn't buy her a toy. Given that her behaviour went from bad to worse in a matter of seconds, it was a good thing that no toy made its way into the shopping basket. (Of course, I could have avoided this entirely by shopping sans enfants.) The crying ended in the car when I promised a cookie for all after lunch. But for some reason, only known to Ceilidh, she refused to leave the van when we arrived home. She refused to come into the house, she refused to take off her shoes, she pretty much refused to do anything. So I left her in the vestibule and carried on with the rest. Unloaded the shopping. Ceilidh still having her tantrum. Put away the shopping. Started lunch. Ceilidh still crying. Got Devlin his lunch. Got Aisling started on her meal. Ceilidh now has shoes off and inside but refusing to wash hands. Meanwhile, Devlin was being extremely super polite, and using the words "thank you" and "please" without prompting. Eventually Ceilidh calmed down enough to start her meal, and Devlin was still an angel.
I've noticed Ceilidh also puts on the super child performance when Devlin has his moments. It reminds me of when my brother Bill and I used to get in trouble from our parents. Our sister Shunaha would suddenly become the good daughter who could do no wrong. It used to make us even more mad, and I'm sure Bill aimed a kick at her shin or pulled one of her pigtails for that performance. Which then got us into more trouble - a vicious cycle!
Incidentally, kids have some incredible stubborn streaks. If only we adults had half the same drive and energy that kids put into their theatrical performances to get what we desired! There's a part of me that thinks "Way to go kid! You'll never be a pushover in life, and you'll set your own path in life. It's not mulishness, but rather a deep set drive to get what you want in life." And then there's the other part me that thinks, "why are you driving me nuts? Surely, only human children in the animal kingdom will drive their parents insane with the tantrums and deliberate testing of what their parents are made of!"
The answer to the question of why Ceilidh is putting you through this stuff can be summed up in one small sentence: she is THREE!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, 3 was way worse than 2 and I dread getting to it with Liam.
It makes me laugh though, that her bad behaviour turns Devlin into a little angel. I say, go with that. ;) You'd be crazy if they were both acting up.