Day 22. National Blog Posting Month.

My eldest is going to be 5 years old in a few days.

Five.

Going on fifteen.

In the span of just a few months, she has suddenly developed an attitude.

Me:  “Time for bed.”

Her: “Why?”

Me: “Because I said so!”

Her: “I don’t want to.”

Me: I didn’t ask if you wanted to.”

Her: “You’re not the boss of me.”

From WebMD (The bold is mine):

4- to 5-Year-Old Development: Emotional and Social Development

Your self-centered child is now figuring out that it is not always about him or her. At this age, children are starting to understand about other people’s feelings. Your 4- to 5-year-old should be better able to work through conflicts and control his or her emotions. 

Emotional and social development milestones your child may achieve at this age include:  

• Enjoys playing with other children and pleasing his or her friends

• Shares and takes turns, at least most of the time

• Understands and obeys rules; however, your 4- to 5-year-old will still be demanding and uncooperative at times

• Being more independent

• Still confuses make-believe with reality

• Expresses anger verbally, rather than physically (most of the time)

Lately it seems like she’s demanding and uncooperative all.the.time. I have to ask her more than once to do a task.  She is constantly defiant, doesn’t do as she is asked/told, talks back, doesn’t ask politely for things even though she did 6 months ago… oy, the list goes on.

Yet, she is sharp as a tack, funny as hell, and it’s often very difficult to keep a straight face even when she’s in complete freak out mode (which usually only happens about an hour before bedtime so I know it’s a fatigue issue).

I’ve heard that age 5 is difficult and I’m starting to think all ages are difficult. I know that developmentally she is right on track and I do encourage her independence, I just wish there wasn’t that battle at the same time. I am imagining what she’s going to be like as a hormonal teenager and I just want to run away and hide!

Because, frankly, I remember all too clearly the drama that my teenage years wrought.  I am afraid I am ill-equipped to go through them again as a mother.  I know I have some time before this happens, but if my almost-five year old is any indication, I am going to be needing a lot more wine in my wine cellar.

Happy Birthday, my love!