I know it's just typical pre-teen crap that I'm dealing with, but I was wondering if anyone has any coping strategies or anything that can help me here.

She's a good kid. Makes excellent grades and does everything we tell her too without (much) complaint. There's just some typical attitude and behaviors that really get on my nerves. They seem rather petty when I list them, but they get to me and I'm trying to find a way to keep them from getting to me.

Here's some examples:

- Her hair. She wants to do the bangs in your face thing but they hang in her eyes and she hasn't figured out how to master that so she does this annoying thing like tilt her head back to look at me when she's speaking or slings her head to move them out of the way constantly.

- Her clothes. She wears the same hoodie nearly every. single. day. I mean, I'm surprised that thing doesn't stand up on it's own. She has other hoodies by the way, that one is just her favorite. But I'm wondering if the kids at school make fun of her for wearing it all the time. If they do, I'm figuring it's not to her face.

- Picky eater. I think she developed bad eating habits based on peer interaction. Stuff she used to like, she no longer likes. I know that happens as kids get older, but I mean come on. she'll eat onions and bell pepper finely chopped in anything, but if she can see it, "Ew, gross." She no longer actually says that because we've informed her that it's rude and not allowed, but she'll just make a face and shuffle the offending substance around on her plate.

- Arguing. She'll carry on a discussion til it is so beat down and idiotic that I want to scream. I enjoy that she's attempting to think for herself, but at some point I have to say "Okay now that's enough. This is pointless." I'm not sure of the best way to handle ending moronic arguements with her. Any suggestions?

-Noise. She has to be constantly making noise. "singing" or just something coming out of her mouth at all times. Her little brother is the same way. After working all day, I'd like to come home and make dinner in peace, but it's constant nonsensical chatter. I feel like a complete jerk if I tell them to knock it off. I mean, they just got done with having to be quiet all day at school. What are some ways they can "twist off" without driving me batty?

I really hate when we're all picking on each other and she and DH side together. I hate when DH sides with any of the kids, but I do it to him all the time. We're just that way. We enjoy giving each other a hard time about something silly. I don't know why I have to be the wet blanket that gets all offended. I mean, I don't let it show but internally I'm truly annoyed. What the heck is up with that? And I wonder, if the skids get truly annoyed at any point ... something for me to consider I guess.

So anyway, just a few things that have been eating at me recently. I really enjoy spending time with the girl for the most part. I wish I could put a more positive spin or finding some coping mechanism to help me deal with these relatively few gripes here.