Step-Daughter's Attitude
By chellekellam
@chellekellam (146)
United States
April 3, 2008 11:36pm CST
I am at the end of my rope with my step-daughter! Quick background: My husband has 4 children (my step-kids) from his ex-wife. He has custody so they live with us full-time. His ex maybe sees them once a month for a day or so. I have been helping him raise them for the past 9 years. She is developing a serious attitude with everyone in the house. She wants to dish it out to everyone and throw a huge fit if anyone dishes it back. She physically hits her siblings, runs her mouth at everyone, and screams at the top of her lungs if she doesn't get her way. I don't know if it's her age or what. We've tried everything we could think of from punishing her for her behavior to trying to be extra nice to her and nothing is working. Is it just hormones? How has anyone else dealt with this kind of thing?
2 responses
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I recommend looking into Parenting with Love and Logic. http://www.loveandlogic.com/
I don't believe you can really read a book to make you a better parent, but this program has some really great ideas for children of all ages.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
4 Apr 08
Is she a pre-teen or teenager? If so, probably hormones and she probably doesn't realize how bad she acts out. Maybe you guys should try to talk to her. If that doesn't work, you need to set some ground rules for her. She may just need a bit of structure and maybe some tough love.
@chellekellam (146)
• United States
4 Apr 08
She's a pre-teen. She's 11. Every time one of us tries to talk to her, she says she doesn't have a problem, everyone else does. My husband and I try to teach the kids that how they act affects the way others act in response. If they walk around with a bad attitude, chances are they're going to get attitude right back from the other kids. With me, if someone's snapping at me, I try to ignore them. I've told my step-children that I don't allow my kids to speak to me that way and I don't expect anyone else to, either. If you want respect, you have to give it and earn it.
