Madeline...

Madeline is such an interesting kid. She is very smart and sweet an funny and really you can't help but love the kid. Madeline however, is going through a time right now. Out of all our kids, Madeline is the one that has been the sneakiest and has pushed my buttons the most. At least pushed them the most as a 3/4 year old. Leah was more hot tempered as a preschooler and maybe even more strong willed in some ways, but I don't remember Leah being so sneaky. It is strange because Madeline has a very strong sense of right and wrong like Leah does, but she does naughty things anyways, even when she knows it is wrong.

It has gotten to the point where I just can't trust her for very long. Like yesterday, the 3 middle kids ate their dinner out on their picnic table. I sat them all out and when I went back to check on them Madeline was dumping some of her food into Anna's bowl and telling Anna if she told she'd be in trouble. Madeline has probably been told 20 times that she does not pawn her food off on the other kids. Then she tried manipulate poor Anna (no wonder Anna was going to send her with the "PS" man). I HATE lying and sneaking but I ABHORE manipulation. Plus earlier that day Madeline had dumped two huge scoops of dog food and chicken food all over the garage floor, which she has also already gotten in trouble for. Oh, and then last night she didn't end up going to sleep until 11:00 pm after coming downstairs 4 different times (and getting swiftly punished each time).

This kind of stuff wears me down quickly. When you add that and 5 other kids that need attention, well, you get the idea. We are being consistent with her and trying different methods of punishment, but could you pray for stamina? THanks!

Julie