October, 2014

Saturday, 10/11/14, Annika and Andrea spend the evening listening to what I hope will be a motivational speech. It’s by a young lady who, when she was 14, sailed solo around the world.

Also that weekend we were helping a friend by taking care of their two kids. Niki played with Kylie, Britta played with Brock.

At night I lost the argument about sleeping arrangements, and thus put Niki and Kylie upstairs in the living room on the twins mattresses, and Britta and Brock downstairs in Annika’s bedroom. I knew Annika would be upset – it happens to rarely that we need her bedroom, but when it does she is wildly selfish and even rude about it.

Annika and Andrea come home from their evening, and Annika immediately throws the mother of all tantrums when she finds out her room is booked. She comes upstairs into our bed, and the tantrum continues. Ridiculous is an understatement.

I know she is tired (cross country race Friday, Soccer Saturday, then out late Saturday night), but in my mind my expectation is that Sunday she will wake up and eventually apologize for her outburst.

Sunday comes and no apology.

Annika’s behavior especially strikes me, since she just heard a talk by a young lady who was demonstrating how to act older than she is. Plus, a few weeks ago Annika and I had a conversation where I encouraged her to continually reflect on the things she does, things she says, and if they don’t feel right (maybe her acts were inspired by peer pressure) to take ownership of her actions and correct them where necessary (even if it’s only a simple apology).

6 days after this is a concert with Luke Bryan that Annika and I were intending to go to. I was really looking forward to this; could not wait to spoil Annika with a concert and my undivided attention. However, given the lack of an apology, I’ve decided to sell the tickets, and not go to the concert.

This is tough! I could just talk with Annika about her outburst, but I feel that at age 11 she needs to start taking responsibility for her actions, rather than continually be reminded. She needs to learn consequences.

And I HATE that I am the one to do this.