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Armageddon Weekend

Fading's picture

Well...I don't even know WHERE to begin. So I think I will do this in chronological order so that hopefully it will all be straight.

FRIDAY -
I get home from work a little after 5PM. DH and SD are already there. SD has gone through her things again and has AGREED to let go of 2 large items (My First Dollhouse and the kitchen) and several miscellaneous small items. I tell DH and SD that I cancelled the bed order, BUT will order again once the items have actually LEFT the house. SD became upset that I cancelled her bed order and threw yet another tantrum, albeit less violent than the last, but still very loud. I pushed DH out of the room, walked out on her and shut the door. I told her that when she finishes, she may come out and if she continues the tantrum outside her room, she will lose every toy she has AND will not get a new bed. SD7 immediately became quiett, which bothered me, A LOT. So I opened the door a crack and SD was just sitting in the middle of her room.
I walked away, DH walked away and we sat in the living room waiting for her. SD doesn't come out. DH, being the guilty daddy he is, immediately runs to the rescue. I didn't move until he said "Holy Sh!t". SD has not only pooped her pants (she always does this and has been required to wear Pull ups until she can get a handle on herself, the therapist says SD uses it as a way to get attention, because that is how her baby brother gets attention), but she has removed her pull up and thrown it on the ground. :sick: I told DH to clean it up, clean HER up, and take her back to BM's, she was done at our house for today (she still had 2 hours of visitation left). DH did as I asked. I am still pissed even now, that little BRAT has decided to use fecal matter as revenge. NOT IN MY HOUSE.

SATURDAY -
I, for some reason, agreed to let SD7 come back Saturday for the 2 hours she left early. I had some new rules, that I had already spoken to DH about, to implement. Since SD wanted to act like a baby, she would be treated as one. Although DH wasn't happy about it, he relented anyway saying 'it MIGHT work'. We sat SD down and explained these new rules to her.
1) No more soda. Milk, juice and water only. (She would get a soda from time to time).
2) No more 'big girl' cups. She will be drinking from baby bottles. (At this she became very upset and threw another tantrum, throwing herself on the ground and screaming. We left until she finished).
3) Nap times. She will be required to take a 30-45 minute nap during each visitation.
4) No more big girl panties or Pull Ups. She will be wearing diapers.
5) All board games and toys with small pieces (Barbies, Littlest Pet Shop, etc) will be locked away.
6) No more InnoTab (IPad for kids).
There was more, but those are the biggest ones. We explained that if she wants to ACT like a baby, she will literally be treated like one. And until we see improvement, these will be the rules. She will have to 'upgrade' as a baby would (ex. bottle to sippy cup to big girl cup). BUT! Daddy and I will NOT be changing the diapers or any messes. She will have to do that HERSELF. If she wants to go potty in her pants, she will have to wear diapers so it no longer 'leaks' onto the furniture, carpet, etc. She will clean up these messes herself.
She threw about 2-3 more tantrums each time a rule was enacted, in which we left the room.
By the end of the visitation, I already saw a bit of improvement. She had not pooped or peed her pants (a miracle in itself), she had not dumped her drink on the floor (happens every visitation) and after her 15 minute 'nap' (more like quiet time. we shortened it since she was only there 2 hours) she seemed 'happier'. When DH took her home, he also took her chosen toys to the consignment store and let her hand them over. I went ahead and reordered the bed.
(Btw, BM was fully aware of these rule changes and was ok with them)

SUNDAY-
SD came over again at noon. Immediately she put on her diaper, got a bottle of juice and sat in her beanbag chair watching The Last Unicorn. She got up to go to the bathroom when she needed to and asked for more juice instead of getting it herself and dumping half the container. By about 3, I thought everything was going great. I was so dreadfully wrong. SD had not gone into her room yet that day. When she did, omg, you'd think she was being eaten by dingos. She went to her room to get her stuffed bear, a few minutes later she is screaming, yelling, writhing on the floor, pounding her fists, kicking, calling me names, telling DH to 'get rid of me' and tipping things over. She wanted to know where her kitchen and dollhouse went. DH explained to her that she had chosen to sell these items and that they (DH and SD) had taken them to the consignment store TOGETHER. SD said she wanted them back...NOW. DH said no, they were already gone and that she would not be getting them back. SD proceeded to scream and yell at him and me, then chucked her bottle at DH, hitting him in the head and getting juice everywhere. I think this is when DH had it. He took all of her toys (left only a few books) and put them in garbage bags in our shed. He told SD she wouldn't be getting them back for a LOOONNNGG time and that she was 'grounded'. He also went into a speech about how she will NOT treat me the way she has any longer and if he ever catches her using any of the foul language she's used against me before, she will never see another toy again. DH advised SD that if she wanted to continue coming over to our home and seeing him, she will need to 'grow up' and stop throwing all these tantrums. Dh went on a tyrade for about 30 minutes and everytime SD would try to pull the 'poor me' or 'daddy coddle me' routine, he told her to knock it off and would step away from her. In the end, she spent the majority of the time just sitting in her beanbag chair pouting and crying. After DH took her home, he asked me to help make up a list of things SD can do to earn her stuff back. Most of it is small chores (help with laundry, dishes, clean up after she is done eating) and each chore has a toy size reward. She has to do these chores without being asked more than once and without having to 'redo' them. DH is going to allow her to have her big girl cups back (just because he doesn't want to get whacked by Gerber again) but she will still be wearing diapers and taking naps.

I can honestly say I am sooooo proud of DH. I am just hoping he continues to help enforce the rules and correct her behavior. I am sure his Guilty Goggles will come out again. I am just so proud of how he handled it this time. I know our rules seem harsh, but it seemed this was all we could do to try to 'correct' her behavior. Hopefully it will help!

Comments

Auteur's picture

YAY!!!! For continuing inspiration watch "The Miracle Worker" (the older version with Anne Bancroft)

Oh and ignore all the trollers who will say you're being "cruel" to little Miss Shittypants or that her clear vying for control via tantrums is some sort of "medical condition" that needs to get "checked out."

3littlemonkeys's picture

I can truly understand your frustration, but I do not believe putting a SEVEN YEAR OLD in diapers and forcing her to drink from a baby bottle is good parenting.
I agree that she should have consequences for her behavior, I do.
I'd imagine if BM gets wind of this, she'll call CPS for abuse on you. If I EVER found out a SM had done this to my child, I'd do everything I could to keep her away from my kids. (And it's the SM in this situation, since you said these are your rules and DH decided to just go along with it.)
Do you have biochildren? Have you taken any parenting classes?
This is just awful. Sad

PS: When my skid acted out, I did things like time out and loss of privileges.

3littlemonkeys's picture

Don't misunderstand. The child needs discipline and consequences. I cannot stand a spoiled brat anymore than the next person.

I just think there are more effective, less abusive ways to parent a seven year old. I feel the same with violence or screaming. If I have to hit or scream to get my child to listen to me, I believe I am doing something wrong as a parent.

I asked my kids the other day when I last yelled at them (it was part of a larger conversation) and none of them could remember. BUT, my kids are respectful and do well in school. My boys even hold doors open for women. Smile

Fading's picture

When did this hitting or screaming occur? because I would never hit a child, and i'll admit I've yelled but what parent hasn't? Now you are just accusing people of things that didn't occur.

3littlemonkeys's picture

No accusation. Please re-read. I am saying that doing "abusive" (my term) things like forcing a child to drink from a bottle is as effective (or rather, ineffective) to screaming or hitting.
I did NOT say you hit. Just want to be clear on that.

oneoffour's picture

I agree. Putting a 7 yr old into diapers and forcing them to use a bottle shows this is not a battle for good behaviour but a battle of wills. How humiliating do you have to be before the behaviour is changed? Isn't this the purpose? You are intent on belittling the girl into submission.

If you were my kids SM I would let you have my ex with open arms and your little world would never be soiled with my child ever again. And then everyone would be happy.

I know the old story, if you don't have children you don't 'understand'. By your own confession you don't WANT children so why would you want this little girl?

Sure I get she is a brat but the people that ALLOWED her to become a brat are her parents. She has been ALLOWED to behave like this. And if your DH asnd her mother are on your side, honestly why is it incumbent on you to direct the beahviour modification? This is her PARENTS job.

Fading's picture

Oh dear, you didn't read the post did you? BM knows and agrees with it. BM and I are practically best buds at this point. LMAO. I don't have biokids, don't want them either. And if there is one thing I've learned from this message board, it's to ignore your obvious trolling advances. But this time I will succumb and school you my darling. Sure you can call it bad parenting, if that is what you wish, but when you have a child that has as many behavior problems as my SD, sometimes you have to go extreme. Her therapist states that we need to be strict and direct with SD, unfortunately, my DH is the only one who plays wet toilet paper, and gives in to almost anything. I wouldn't comment about situations you don't understand, especially when you don't read through the entire post and just nit pick the parts you dislike. Then again I think you are probably one of those people who disagreed with Facebook Dad for shooting his daughter's laptop...That man is my hero.

Fading's picture

and again, of course DH had go to along. Have you ever tried to wipe with wet toilet paper? It just doesn't get the job done. So you have to bring in reinforcements.

3littlemonkeys's picture

OF COURSE he had to go along? WHY? Because you'd make him miserable if he didn't bow to your demands???

Fading's picture

Lmao miserable? No dear. Id have just asked what he wanted to do about it and he'd have done nothing about it as usual.

Fading's picture

Dh knows there are one of two things that will occur. Either he will sit and choose to do nothing or he can try what bm or I have come up with.

3littlemonkeys's picture

.

3littlemonkeys's picture

I'm not a troll. I'm not an abusive mother, either. The fact that BM agrees with you means nothing. I said if it were me, I would take care of business.

You are not a parent; thus you CANNOT "school" me in parenting.

Don't take my word for it... call a child psychologist. Hell, call a dozen. Ask them if your "ideas" are good for any child. Ask them if they are acceptable or if there are better ways to handle this child.
I'd imagine, when this girl hits about 13-15, she is going to HATEHATEHATE you...and that will only make your life and marriage miserable.

ETA: Wait, she's already told DH to "get rid of" you, called you StepStupid and other names... I'm pretty sure she's well on her way to hating you. Look on this site... these SDs can cause problems WELL into adulthood. Is that what you want??

Fading's picture

Meh, so she hates me. Whoopee! In a few years when she's 13 and not crapping her pants in school as she already does, she'll thank me.

IAmALady77's picture

Also my hero, I freaking love that guy haha! I think your tactics are good, at 7, she should know that shitting herself is disgusting and not acceptable. By making her wear a diaper and clean herself up herself ...great idea in my opinion. And obviously this has been going on for some time and even BM agrees with you. I don't see treating the kid like a baby if she wants to act like a baby as "abusive". Good luck with everything!

DaizyDuke's picture

So I'm kind of reading between the lines on a couple things here and I'm not sure I understand. BM is OK with the diapers, bottles, etc etc. but SD does not do any of these things at BM's? I guess I'm getting this from the part where you say SD came back for her 2 hours and when she got to your place immediately put a diaper on. If I'm correct in my assumption, is she crapping her pants and such at BMs and BM just allows it? Or is she not doing these things at BMs?

Fading's picture

Oh yes, she does these things at bm's too and wears pullups (her and her baby brother share) she also does it at school too. We've been told by the school that if she continues she'll be removed.

3littlemonkeys's picture

Has she seen a counselor? It seems *wrong* that she'd do it at school if it's in her control...simply because the other kids will tease her.

Fading's picture

You really didn't read the whole post did you? I'm pretty sure I've said hundreds of times she's in therapy. The therapist says (after ruling out medical diagnoses) that this its mostly for attention. She never did any of it before her brother was born. But she did have issues then just not the 'baby' issues

3littlemonkeys's picture

Sorry. It's virtually impossible for me to remember every detail of every story.

If she's doing it strictly for attention, in what ways does she get positive attention?

Fading's picture

When she picks up her toys, colors a pretty picture, says something or does something nice to or for someone, etc, we give her praise and/or she will get to pick a 'treat' out of the 'Good'ie Bag. This can be a little piece of candy or small toy (like a silly band, plastic ring, frootsies, tootsie rolls, smarties, hair bow, etc). And if she does really well in school during the week, no potty issues and no 'bad cards' (they have different colored cards they get each day, green is awesome and orange is really bad) we will take her out to eat or to a movie on Friday night, her choice. And she can be really well behaved and sweet, but that isn't going to lessen her punishments for her misbehaviors.

3littlemonkeys's picture

Praise for doing good things is great.

What positive attention does she get without having to EARN it?

Fading's picture

Besides the fact that her dad spends every waking moment with her whilst at our house and calls her daily when she is not? Or the fact that BM, SF, DH and her grandma will all bend over backwards to make sure that she gets 'playtime' with them? Or the fact that she just generally always gets attention good or bad for whatever she does. You just love to nitpick everything. How about I send SD to live with you for a while and we will see how much love, care and hair you have left afterwards.

3littlemonkeys's picture

I apologize; I wasn't nitpicking.

It has been proven that people respond to feedback. If SD is "looking for attention," it seems reasonable to ask what attention she IS getting.

Auteur's picture

OOPS!

not2sureimsaneanymore's picture

I think the punishments were suitable, for what the child has done and since other, lesser forms have not worked--

1. She defecates in her pants, whether it is for revenge, attention, or whether she has a medical problem, putting her back in diapers is the first step. Otherwise you'd be spending more time dealing with the clean-up than the actual parenting. As she has proven this is a result of willful act out, the diapers should stay in place until she has learned the lesson that it is NOT OKAY.

2. Drinking from a baby bottle is really not a big deal, other than to serve as a punishment. I don't think it's any different from time-out, or getting toys taken away. It's only embarrassing, and since forms of punishments such as time out has not worked, dealing with her pride will help.

Yeah, she will probably hate you, but good for your DH for standing up and doing it. Sorry, but your house, your rules. As long as you're not physically hurting or mentally crippling her, any form of punishment (be it hot sauce on the nails to stop them from biting, wearing diapers, to toys being taken away) is proper IMHO.

Did you guys ever read the story of the boy who's father stuck a piece of gum every night on his ceiling until he apologized after the boy stuck gum under the dining room table and threw a tantrum when he got in trouble? Or how the same dad put a plastic frog everywhere (boy's drawers, on his bed, in the fridge, in his lunch box) then dressed up in a frog suit and went into the boy's room, after the boy killed some frogs? Scared the bejeezus out of him but the boy remembered the lesson. Smile

not2sureimsaneanymore's picture

LIKE!

For the practical sake of what she has done, it pretty much covers it.

Right? Had she asked if she should put diapers on a child who is incontinent (I was looking for that word) and who does it for attention, would she have gotten so much negative feedback? I'm thinking no.

Had she asked if she should give the child a baby cup if she constantly throws them, we probably all would have told her, yeah, go for it.

And honestly, for most men, they leave the parenting and the ideas of parenting up to the wives/partners. I know FDH will come to me and follow my lead, not the other way around so as long as I got his OK, screw what BM thinks. If I ain't breakin no law, get outta my house!

Auteur's picture

I get the feeling, however that DH is not 100% onboard with these "non-psychotherapy" remedies. Kids can SMELL non-unity. If she gets a whiff that DH is trying to play "good cop/bad cop" then she'll ramp up her tactics.

Jsmom's picture

I think it may work. It is like starting over and fixing the non-parenting that was going on. Stay with it and you may actually break the child of these type of behaviors...

Good for you...If someone disagrees ignore them. They have no idea what it is like to deal with a child that is this manipulative.

SJ's picture

Even though I am going to be criticized for this I am sure, I like your ideas Fading. I think they are creative.

And that is all I am going to say lest I be chastized.