What if I Don't Want To

So lately, Ayden Jane had declared war. Sort of a behavioral war. It is so hard sometimes to determine what is PWS behavior and what is a 4 year old challenging authority behavior. I guess in the end we treat it about the same so it doesn't really matter, but I know that the PWS variety is less within her control so it gives me a bit of sympathy for her. Not enough to let her get away with everything, but maybe at least enough sympathy to have a little bit more patience.

I guess what it comes down to is that the root of her behavior is typical, but the intensity is definitely aggravated by PWS. Yep, that would be how you spell Tantrum. (Note the capital T) We have not had a tantruming child in any of the other 3 and it is not one of AJ's endearing qualities. I am thinking it is here to stay, at least for a little while. Good new is that she seems to save these episodes for us. At least that spares her teachers!

Example of her expressing her independence. This morning she was in our room. She was stepping on something I could not see and I didn't like the sounds of it. I told her to please stop. She looked at me as if I had a hole in my head and kept going. I told her again ... She looked straight at me and said, "What if I don't want to?" Grrr. She was picking fight number 3 and it was just 9 am. When I moved to see what she was stepping on, it turned out to be a toy of hers. I told her that we did not treat toys that way and to pick it up and put it away in her room. Again, "What if I don't?" So, you guessed it. The toy is now living where she can not play with it and she spent some good old fashioned time out time. Of course, we had to endure the sobbing injustice of losing a favorite toy....

She totally 'gets' it. Later she said, "look mom, I am taking good care of my toys. Can I get the ark back yet?" (Don't worry, I did not cave to the cuteness) Also, at one point she asked me, "Mom, why you the boss?" Hey, at least she is willing to recognize it as fact!