Yes, I have the most beautiful little monkeys in the world, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to wrangle all the time.
Over the last few months, I have noticed an alarming trend in the behaviour or Willow. Nothing that can’t be managed and nothing too serious, just something that is tiring to deal with and takes up way too much of our time.
The first time I noticed this happening, was not long after she started school. Naturally, I just put it down to her being tired from a big day of playing and learning, but apparently that isn’t it at all – this problem is even worse on the weekends.
What am I talking about? Not entirely sure to tell you, but I’m starting to think Oppositional Defiance Disorder, which if you turn it into an acronym spells ODD and we all know Willow is just that! (but in the loveable way of course).
I have done some reading, spoken to other parents with children who have similar behaviours and even spoken to Les about getting Willow seen to by a child behaviourist (though he’d rather play ostrich).
The constant backchat and arguing is very draining, as are the deliberate destruction sprees Willow goes on, that are going to cost a small fortune to put right. When Willow doesn’t get her own way, she will scream and argue like a politician and the rest of us are left with splitting headaches.
Then there is the vindictive streak. Willow will wait until everything is all calm again, and start chewing on the house (I believe we had a dog like that didn’t we Mum?). I’d get photos, but to tell you the truth, it isn’t pretty and I’d need a whole photo library!
She has already stripped the rubber stoppers off her wardrobe doors, which isn’t a biggy. To save further drama, I’ve decided to hide the strips for now and put them back when we move out. She has chewed away part of the wall in the loungeroom (Mum, I will show you when you come up!!!), but can only chew so far because of the metal behind it (a builder with hindsight!!!!!????), but it won’t stop her – there are the window sills yet to be tasted.
I know that I was terrible as a child, but surely I wasn’t this bad! Surely I didn’t go around behind my Mum’s back and deliberately destroy the house just because I was told ‘No’. Oh my, it isn’t ‘Woe is Willow’, it is ‘Woe is Arna’
On a funnier side, Willow managed to break knob on her bedroom the other day, looking herself in her bedroom! Yeah, not happy about the knob, but it was funny just the same. We’ve been waiting for it to happen because she won’t stop swinging on the door!!!
Ok, as I am writing this, a classic example of Willowness is playing in the background:
Les is trying to get her to take her jumper off because it is a very warm day. Willow is saying she isn’t hot, even though her cheeks are flushed and her hair is wet from sweat. This is a mild example of her behaviour!