Day 137
20/09/09 13:52 Filed in: Diary
Have you got teenage daughters? Have their sulky, sad hormones kicked in? When did it happen? Did you suffer as a teenager and are you seeing your daughter behave the same?
I couldn't put the work off any longer. I knew if I didn't want to be pondering about lost time and opportunities today had to be the day. I must have made the appropriate noises to my partner because he started his jobs straight away. Between us we managed to clear most of the niggly little jobs that we had been putting off for a while, secured blinds in lounge, fixed dripping tap, etc. We even then set about building a log store at the side of the house. I know it sounds sad but I was so pleased. This was one of those jobs that has been talked about for around a year but not even been started. Once he put his mind to it my partner managed to build it pretty quick. With me acting as the skivvy, sorry assistant, doing the menial clean up job. I didn't mind this time though because at least it was another job ticked off.
I think our progress was helped by the kids playing so well in the afternoon. Our son had gone around to his mates house only returning when his stomach told him he needed food. Our two girls were mostly in the garden, using the trampoline and playhouse as part of some fantasy girlie game.
It almost wasn't that idyllic a day though as our eldest daughter was behaving very odd this morning. She started the day by deciding she wanted to build a den in her bedroom. However no matter how much she tried she just couldn't get the various quilts, sheets and towels to stay were she wanted them. I don't think youngest was that interested and soon left her to it.
When eldest daughter was then mildly chastised for standing on a stool to reach the tub of goodies, she went off in a mega sulk. I think it was more frustration at her inability to create a den than because of the telling off. She wouldn't admit it though. No matter how much we asked what was wrong and tried to cajole her out of her mood she stayed non communicative.
I tend to play the long game and leave her to come around on her own, but my partner doesn't like to see anyone sad so he kept trying to bring her out of it. When he blew a money spider off the trampoline against her wishes we had tears galore. We were both getting really frustrated at our inability to make her talk to us and cheer up. We certainly didn't believe a money spider could cause so much anguish, but nothing we did seemed to work. She just sat on one side of the trampoline crying. I felt sorry for youngest as well who is always so happy when her big sister is there to play with her. To have her there, but not playing, and actually preventing youngest from doing anything, was unfair.
Eventually she did come round and she apologised to us for being so sulky. I don't think she knew herself why she was behaving that way. She certainly struggled to justify it, saying anything that sounded like the first thing that came into her head.
My concern is if she is like that now, at eight years of age, what will she be like when the hormones really start to kick in as a teenager? What chance will I have of getting through her then? I know when I went through it I was a very sad and mixed up little girl so it doesn't bode well for her. When it starts we will have to batten down the hatches I think and my partner and the other kids will probably run and hide!
Anyway we ended the day with a lovely roast chicken dinner followed by a good family film. What more could a Mum ask for?
I think our progress was helped by the kids playing so well in the afternoon. Our son had gone around to his mates house only returning when his stomach told him he needed food. Our two girls were mostly in the garden, using the trampoline and playhouse as part of some fantasy girlie game.
It almost wasn't that idyllic a day though as our eldest daughter was behaving very odd this morning. She started the day by deciding she wanted to build a den in her bedroom. However no matter how much she tried she just couldn't get the various quilts, sheets and towels to stay were she wanted them. I don't think youngest was that interested and soon left her to it.
When eldest daughter was then mildly chastised for standing on a stool to reach the tub of goodies, she went off in a mega sulk. I think it was more frustration at her inability to create a den than because of the telling off. She wouldn't admit it though. No matter how much we asked what was wrong and tried to cajole her out of her mood she stayed non communicative.
I tend to play the long game and leave her to come around on her own, but my partner doesn't like to see anyone sad so he kept trying to bring her out of it. When he blew a money spider off the trampoline against her wishes we had tears galore. We were both getting really frustrated at our inability to make her talk to us and cheer up. We certainly didn't believe a money spider could cause so much anguish, but nothing we did seemed to work. She just sat on one side of the trampoline crying. I felt sorry for youngest as well who is always so happy when her big sister is there to play with her. To have her there, but not playing, and actually preventing youngest from doing anything, was unfair.
Eventually she did come round and she apologised to us for being so sulky. I don't think she knew herself why she was behaving that way. She certainly struggled to justify it, saying anything that sounded like the first thing that came into her head.
My concern is if she is like that now, at eight years of age, what will she be like when the hormones really start to kick in as a teenager? What chance will I have of getting through her then? I know when I went through it I was a very sad and mixed up little girl so it doesn't bode well for her. When it starts we will have to batten down the hatches I think and my partner and the other kids will probably run and hide!
Anyway we ended the day with a lovely roast chicken dinner followed by a good family film. What more could a Mum ask for?
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