How on earth is it Wednesday again? The week was a blur of two sick kids, followed by sick me, followed by a whole lot of other life stuff. And here we are! But thank goodness for Wednesdays, I say, because they bring… guest posts.
Today’s guest is Christina, from A Closet Writer. Christina is one of my first blog friends and I’m honored that she’s also my real life friend. She’s the brains and the heart behind Austin Bloggers, our local networking and girls night out group, and a social media rockstar. Christina has two gorgeous kids, but one of them is making her feel a bit crazy right now. Read on…
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No, you're wrong!
I feel confident saying my daughter, whom I call The Girl, will eventually become a lawyer.
I know children of a certain age are supposed to question and push back against their parents. I get it. Flexing their little intellectual muscles. However, I believe a monster is in the making.
Here is an example of a conversation that happened just this weekend.
Me: You need to hurry up so you can come down and practice some of your verses for Awana tonight.
The Girl: We do not have Awana tonight.
Me: Sure you do.
The Girl: No Mom. They told us last week that we were off tonight because of Spring Break.
Me: Spring Break is in a week, you misunderstood, its next Sunday you are off.
The Girl: No Mom. It is this Sunday. I distinctly [she’s eight] remember them saying we had no Awana tonight.
Me: Look! Can you just trust that I am your mother and I know the schedule? You have Awana tonight.
The Girl: Fine.
Now you would think I would be pissed by this point and even more determined to prove her wrong. But no. I am now questioning (in my mind) whether she right. Am I wrong? Maybe they don’t have Awana tonight. Dang it!
She does this ALL the time. As she has gotten older, she has become even more convincing with her arguments. She believes with all of her little 8-year-old determination that she is right, and I am old and wrong.
How did this happen? It was just yesterday that The Girl was asking to snuggle in my lap and wanting me to tell her stories. Now. Well, now she is well, defiant. I hate saying it, but that is what it is. Call a cow a cow, right? Or whatever the saying is.
It really is driving me nuts. Again, not because she is so defiant but she pleads such a believable case. She almost has me thinking whatever she says is right and I am hallucinating.
Sounds like the perfect defense attorney to me.
I wonder…
:: Do you have any kids like this?
:: Have you figured out a magical way to deal with it without losing your mind? I’d love to know.
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About the Writer
Christina has always dreamed of being a writer, and little did she know that in her late thirties she would get the chance. The more she wrote random thoughts and snapshots about life, the more she heard from complete strangers that they could relate to her writings. Basic observations about what was going on in her life resonated with so many. This is all she needed to hear and A Closet Writer was born!
She would love to connect! Follow her on Twitter, fan her on Facebook, and read her blog.
Lapsed homemaker. Looking to hire a full-time housekeeper who will work for the sheer joy of a job well done and free coffee. Interested parties, DM please. 
My Little Miss Thang (also 8) is exactly the same way. Of course, given that both her parents are lawyers, she has no chance. I can cross-examine that little girl until she is crying in the corner. Okay, maybe that’s going a bit too far. I’ve never actually made her cry. Well, not by cross-examining her at least. Hmmm. Suffice to say: I can relate.
Thanks Amy for your empathy! She is a piece of work for sure!
Well, my kids could bargain their way out of picking up their jammies or into getting another snack but so far they’re not quite old enough to have perfected their negotiation skills. Sorry. Can’t help. I will say though, that one of the boys inherited my stubborn gene and for this, I’m fearful!
Dang it! I was hoping you would shed the magical light on it all. Come on MommaKiss!!! I think I am just fearful that she inherited this all from me, AHAHAHAH!
Mine is not even 4 yet and she’s already doing this. It’s madness!
I will pray for you Martha! Haaa! Yeah, strong little people are a blessing and a curse, that is for sure!
OH. My. Goodness! This is my 9-year-old and I TO A T! So, Yes. In answer to your 1st question: I have kids like this. Disappointingly, I’ve got no magical way to deal with it – but I’m so glad that there are others in the same boat as I 🙂
That does give me relief Kate. I’m glad I am not alone. I told her the other day that I wrote about her for Missy’s blog and she was like, “Yeah, sure” No respect! Ha!
Thanks for hanging out here today, Christina! The H-man is my child-sized attorney, so I feel your frustration. Big time. According to my mother, though, payback is hell. Apparently, I was the same way, and I do remember her saying, “I’m not crazy, so stop trying to convince me otherwise.”
The good news, I guess, is that she should outgrow this eventually (I’m 38 and I’d say I’m much better than I used to be, like when I was 35). Hang in there!
PS – My mom is totally crazy (hi, mom! love you!), but I’m pretty sure I did spend a lot of time convinced I was right… about everything.
That is the thing I worry about most. Will she really outgrow it? AHH! I used to have a sweet lady tell me, “Well, she’ll be a strong Christian woman one day.” She knew what I was in for. Thanks for having me Missy, always a pleasure to hang on your side of the fence.
Are you sure you don’t have one of my girls there with you?
We have similar conversations like this at my house and I have been blessed/cursed with 3 daughters (16, 12, 10) and oh my. Kill me now.
I will pray for you right now Jackie. Ha! Oh my goodness, 3 girls, yeah, what am I saying. I was the youngest of 3 girls. I need to buy my mom some flowers the next time I see her, and a huge apology. Ha!
Okay but wait? Was she right?
I’m assuming that you were, in fact, the one who knew the correct schedule. Even though she’s a future lawyer and all, you’re still the adult. Nevertheless, I know ALL TOO WELL that instinct to start second-guessing yourself with your (too bright for his/her own good )child begins to question you.
So let me just admit this:
My son is now 14. And guess what? When we disagree on some fact, the little sucker is usually right now.
Hold me.
Julie, for the record. I WAS RIGHT. Thank goodness! Can you imagine if she was right? Yikes. See, my 12 year old boy never does it, he just blindly goes along with anything I say. Man, I love that kid. HAAA!
Oh Christina, this makes me feel for you…and giggle a bit. My oldest will argue with me about something until I’m blue in the face, and yes, sometimes in the end, I am left asking myself if I was at fault, or wrong, or whatever the situation may be. I am becoming more and more concerned as the days pass that my littlest one is going to be so much better at it though. No answers here, I just keep fighting the good fight. Good luck friend!
Thanks Whit, I will keep fighting the good fight. No way am I letting that little stinker get the upper hand!
I am a former attorney and one of my friends (another attorney) once told me, “you know we’re destined to raise attorneys, right?” I think she might be because she sounds just like your girl! Nice to meet you!
Oh yeah, I understand. My son turned eight in the fall and it’s like a switch went off. The other day he said, “I’m in second grade, dude. Don’t talk to me like I’m in Kinder”. And for a moment, my mom’s voice flashed in my head saying something like “if you want to live to see third grade…” but I recovered.
Good luck. If you figure it out, please let me know.
🙂
Traci