Happiness Creeps In

Lily is five, but by the way she is acting I feel like she’s hit puberty early. She says things like, “I hate you, Mommy!” and “Mommy, you’re so mean!” She throws crying, screaming fits when I tell her it’s time to turn off the T.V. or that she can’t have dessert. (Give that kid sugar? No way!) She refuses to listen to my suggestions on how to do certain things. “I want to do it MY WAY, Mommy!” When I try to snuggle with her at bedtime, she’ll push me away and say, “Your breath smells, Mommy. Go brush your teeth!”

Lily was no angel before, but her willful behavior has suddenly escalated in the past two months.

Hmm…two months. Two months of absolutely, positively, horrible behavior. Two months since Lily’s grandma died.

In an abrupt contradiction to this behavior, Lily is very observant to certain things. “Mommy, why is your nose red?” she’ll ask. “Mommy, are you sniffing?” Yes, Lily, I’m sniffing, but I only have a runny nose, I reassure her as I reach for a tissue.

Two nights ago, I went into Lily’s room to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight. Instead of the usual “your breath reeks” comment, she asked me to snuggle with her for a while.

Snuggle? With Lily? YES, LILY, I WILL SNUGGLE WITH YOU!!!

I crawled into bed with Lily, my heart full of happiness. I held her close, smelled her hair, and kissed her cheek. Lily snuggled back.

And then she said, “Mommy, don’t breathe on me!”

Happiness is a state of mind at Sprite’s Keeper. Put your spin on it!
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12 Replies to “Happiness Creeps In”

  1. Stopping by from SITS and couldn't resist the title of your post.My daughter is tough, too. I keep getting assurances from friends that things level off after they graduate from high school πŸ™

  2. Children know exactly how to push us don't they? My little boy is 3 and he's a snuggler but he's also quick to mention that Daddy is his favorite parent and that he only loves me a little bit. Hey, at least he loves me. πŸ™‚ I'll take what I can get.Stopping by from SITS.

  3. My, that IS some willful behavior! Good correlation, though. I have noticed some regression with Sprite and the potty during the week John was gone on his cruise. She kept asking for him and started trying to control herself again which just caused a big frustration. We're finally starting to smooth that out though. Happiness is breaking through the tough exterior! You're linked!

  4. Your Lily and my Lilly have a LOT in common, I would say- my Lilly will be 5 in April. And she is ALWAYS informing me that I"m wrong and that I need a shower or to brush my teeth. LOL

  5. Ah yes. We had one of ours who acted pretty similarly at 5, too. Hang in there and grab those sweet (fleeting) moments when you can!

  6. Oh my! Words can cut deep even from a little one. I'm so glad that you were granted a reprieve and had some snuggle time. I hope her little heart mends quickly.

  7. this sounds familiar. Though 5.5 – 6 seemed to bring even more teenager like mood swings from my little guy. I think it is an age thing

  8. I am sure she has some issues with her grandmother being gone. I am also sure it will pass, they are always testing us. I'm glad she let you cuddle for awhile :)Your knitting looks so pretty.

  9. I have a feeling she feels the tension and grief as well, but doesn't know how to express it, being only five. She's a sweetheart and I know she loves you dearly…even when she's yelling! πŸ™‚

  10. We take what we can get when our kids let us snuggle. I'm glad she's letting you in a little. Now go brush your teeth. πŸ˜‰

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