Thursday, November 6, 2008

Silent Treatment

Lately Jenna has been like a cranky bear who just woke up from hibernation in the mornings. It seems to be getting worse and worse. This morning was no exception.

We try to leave for school around 9:00, our goal time, but its actually usually by 9:10. This morning I woke Jenna up at 8:25 while I went to pick out her clothes. I've never met a 5 year old who was so opinionated about her clothes like Jenna, but she approved my choice this morning. I told her to get dressed while I bathed Emma, who had woke up covered in formula from the bottle I gave her at 6:00 trying to get her to sleep longer. Jenna was already whiny and cranky but when she heard that Emma was getting a bath she wanted to take a bath too. I told her that we didn't have time, Emma's bath was going to be incredibly short, and that she needed to get dressed ASAP. Jenna followed me into the bathroom with her clothes and proceed to be upset and roll around on the floor. She wanted a bath. She wanted me to dress her. Ryan was looking at her. Finally I told her very calmly that I had had enough and if she was going to continue being so whiny then she could go back to her room and do it there.

She looked at me, put her hand on her hip and announced, "I'm not going to talk to you for a year!"

I was getting Emma out of the bath tub and was feeling the stress of trying to have all children dressed and feed by 9:00. I was leaving the babies with Trace while I went to write and I knew they had to be "complete" before I left. It was already 8:45. Part of me wanted to snap a response to Jenna but I stopped and said very calmly. "That's too bad. I'll miss you talking to me."

I got the babies dressed and took them downstairs and started to get their breakfast. Jenna, who had finished dressing, followed us down. I was trying to ask her questions about what she wanted for breakfast but she remained silent.

"Oh, I forgot, you're not talking to me for a year. That's a really long time." I commented to her silence.

In the meantime I was talking to Emma and Ryan about breakfast and other things. Without thinking I asked Jenna something and to my surprise she answered.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, "You talked to me!" I thought it was an oversight on her part.

"Yeah," she answered. "It wasn't any fun not talking to you."

Same here, sister friend, same here.

("Sister friend" is a story for another day)

6 comments:

The Johnson 5 said...

Love it, sometimes they need to learn all on their own! Good job momma!

Brandy said...

LOL! Being quiet for 5 minutes is a miracle for all the 5 year olds I know so at least she lastest that long.

Jesse, James and Lindsey's mom said...

Oh how I miss that part of little girls and look forward to it again. And yes being quiet is a miracle for ALL 5 yr olds even boys LOL

Kristin said...

Wow, leave for school at 9:00? What time does school start??

We haven't experienced the silent treatment yet. It would be nice to one day---if even for five minutes. :-)

Denise Grover Swank said...

School starts at 9:15!!! Incredibly late to me. We can see the school from our back yard, we live that close. If its nice we walk which takes 2-3 minutes. If its not or I'm lazy because of the babies I drive and it takes less than one minute including pulling out of the garage.

Mom2Three said...

Emily Rose (age 5.5) does exactly the same thing. I sometimes wonder who is the baby, her or Mary Pearl (age 3.5).
:-)
Cynthia
Have LOA...
Leaving for China SOON!!!!