Oh Livie...lou who

"Older" people always say, just wait for the teenage years. And I think, there is no way it's harder than right now. I am physically exhausted and my back hurts actually burns all day long. I can't imagine it being any harder than raising babies and toddlers. But as Olivia gets older we sure do get a glimpse of what's to come our way. 

Olivia is one of those kids that sees the bad in everything. We could give her an ice cream cone and she would complain that it's not the flavor she wanted. We could give her a toy and it wouldn't be the right one.  We could give her a candy and it wouldn't be big enough. Can you see why this would drive us crazy? She sounds super spoiled. And she has definitely never been without but it's more than that. Our other kids have been just as "spoiled' but have different outlooks.

Olivia turns EIGHT next month. I can't believe I will have an 8 year old. And I do see age 8 starting the pre-teen stage and I know she is acting like other pre-teens but I want her to be better so I don't have to go on an anti-anxiety med any time soon. 

It's so hard when we live in a bubble to show our kids what the "real" world is like. I wish (and hope) I can send each one of our kids to Peru to experience how lucky they really are. But until then we have had to come up with some ideas to make her aware when she is having a negative attitude (which is everyday).

I  miss the innocence.

-Spend more one on one time with her. Tyler is going to pick her up from school and take her to lunch once a month and I am going to take her somewhere special with me once a month.

-I made a behavior chart just for her. So it's separate from the chore chart.  With things like, were you nice to your brothers today, did you help Mom when she asked, did you not role your eyes fourteen times at mom today and were you positive today? Then there will be incentives for being nice and positive.

-I saw something like this on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect to start when she turns 8. I made these Mom and Me journals. So one day I will write a little message down for her. Maybe a cute memory I have of her, some advice or just tell her how much I wanted her and love her. Then I put it under her pillow. Then it's her turn to write something down for me to read. Some advice to me or just how she is feeling that day. Then she can leave it under my pillow. I hope we can continue with these love letters back and forth because I know these journals would be something to cherish later.

I always say the first child is the "trial child" and will probably be screwed up when they get older so hopefully these things will help her be a little less screwed up.

PS. If your first child is a girl and she isn't 8 yet. Good luck with the eyeballs rolling. Some how bouncing a baby for an hour (while my back feels on fire) when everyone else is sleeping away sounds really good right now.