Little Miss Independent

I don't think I've mentioned how fiercely independent Alana is becoming. She wants to do everything like a big girl and refuses help much of the time. She has her moods when she wants to be a baby and have mommy do things for her (and she still wants me to rock her before bed at night). For the most part though she wants to do everything her big brother is doing. I'm trying to stand back and let her try to do things on her own. If she asks for help I assist, but I'm trying not to be overbearing about helping her. I think it is great that she is curious about this great big world and that she wants to tackle it head on! I cringe when I think of how limited her experiences were in the orphanage and what an amazing place this must still seem like to her.

I'm glad to report that Alana is doing much better with sharing. I've been praising her profusely when I catch her sharing and she LOVES to be praised!! I also praise Dylan when he shares with Alana and that brings out her competitive nature. She can't have Dylan getting all the attention!

Our next behavior that we are working on his not rubbing other peoples noses in their mistakes. This is going to be even trickier than sharing to communicate to her. For example, if Collin spills food in his lap at dinner, I'll remind him to lean over his plate. Alana will quickly get my attention and point out that SHE is leaning over her plate. This goes on and on and on and on. Anytime someone else is corrected, you better believe that she is going to point out how she is doing that very same thing correctly. I can only imagine how aggravated other children in her school will be (never mind her teacher) if we don't get this under control. Initially I would respond when she did this and agree that she is doing a good job. Then I started nodding and weakly smiling when she would do it. Then I tried ignoring her (which doesn't work by the way -- she will say things OVER and OVER until you pay attention to her). So, now I'm having to provide some negative reinforcement. I'm just telling her that is not nice, but I don't know that she understands what is not nice about it. Oh well, we'll get to that eventually!