Changes

Day 2 of working on a more positive approach with Sophie... and the terrible two's.. aka inner demon's.

Day 1 went GREAT!!! I was exhausted at the end of it from trying all day to not just praise her good behaviors, but highlight the above and beyonds without over doing it... she was great and as she stomped my foot, kicked the cat and pinched my lip after it was already bleeding.. I just asked her nicely to be easy and explained how upsetting it was when people and animals got hurt.. (to actually write all of what I did different and how our day went.. well would take a separate blog) BUT it was a good day on both of our parts for trying this change.

Day 2 she spent most of her day with her grandparents (great) but during our time together I did see improvement and changes in some areas. Instead of asking her multiple times to do something, I asked her 1x and if she said "no" then I left it at that and a natural consequence occurred.. if she ignored me I warned her I would ask 1 more time and then there would be a consequence.. so when she refused to bring me her cup for more drink... I didn't fetch it.. when she ignored me when asking her to come get a diaper change... I picked her up and didn't utter a word while she kicked and whined, and changed her... when she "couldn't" find her cup that was in front of her before we left the house this morning... I didn't grab it to avoid a melt down in the car.. and let the meltdown happen.. SOOOO the verdict.. this technique is starting a difference!

Oh if I just hadn't let her be 2 before :) I really do expect more out of her due to her intelligence and don't let her be her age very often... so this change needs to start with me! I don't want to reward her or encourage her to do things for a treat.. I want her to do something because it is the right thing to do..I want her to want positive reinforcement not negative. I want her to want to pick up her toys... I want her to want to be nice.. so wish me luck with this change.. because it is not really Sophie I am trying to change.. it is me! It is my expectations and my behavior trying to make things easier sometimes.....

So tonight she picked up, she ate dinner, and she didn't whine for very long AT ALL when we denied her what she requested due to various factors.. the time out step has changed to the step she can go to to whine and return to her activity she was removed from when she has a happy face...

Now for the quietness of the night to take over.. Sophie is in bed sleeping, Caleb is snoozing on my lap.. and our 8 year old German Shepard, Sheba is sleeping with her bff (the cat). I hope Sheba is dreaming of her days running in the park, chasing her Kong, stealing pizza's off tables, eating windows and phone lines.... and her days of having fun.hanging her head out of the sunroof. I hope she dreams of the good times she has shared with us.. and that she has no pain as she is silently suffering due to a rare condition that is causing her nerves to die, and causing her to have major hip and leg issues. Tonight was the worst so far, her legs cross when she stands, and hips bow out.. she couldn't even come in the house tonight when called... so Sheba... I hope you are pain free and your pain medication has kicked in.. I hope you have good dreams tonight and you are sleeping on the floor beside me because you want to, not because you cant move to the bedroom where you normally sleep. And I hope that Sophie continues her empathy and understanding of our pleading to be nicer to you while you are still here with us.... You need to rest up and get ready for Sophie's big adventures she has planned for you tomorrow- she wants you to color with her, she wants to trace you on paper and then hide on you like she did with her Nanny today.. so rest up Sheba... tomorrow will be a new day!