My four year old dd recently started running away from me whenever I take her anywhere. I'm at the point that I'm afraid to leave the house with her. Yesterday I took her and ds to the zoo. We were having a lovely time, and getting along well until it was time to go. I like to give her warning so I told her that after we go through the aviary, we need to head to the exit. We stepped into the aviary and she sprinted away from me. I at first could see her and so didn't really react hoping that the lack of attention was not what she was looking for. Then she passed the point where I could see her so I had to follow. I caught up to her, gave her a little talk and started to move again with the two of them next to me. She ran out the aviary door before I could do anything. Immediately outside, there are three different directions to go and I couldn't tell where she'd gone while I was passing through the solid metal doors after her. She disappeared for about ten minutes. I was terrified but she didn't seem to mind. I had no idea what to do! When she reappeared, I tried to grab her hand or her arm because she was still trying to run away but she just collapsed until I let go and then bolted. I can't pick her up since I have to carry my son. She doesn't even mind if I turn around and just walk off. I tried sitting down with her and trying to reason. I tried hugging her and asking her very sincerely to come with me. I told her we wouldn't come back to the zoo for a very long time if she couldn't listen, she didn't care. I ended up trying to carry her which didn't turn out well and then trying to just pretend I didn't care anymore and walk off. The combination of these two got us to the exit at which point, she followed. I feel awful that I even felt I needed to pick her up! I don't want to have to 'force' her to do anything but I saw no other choice. I felt like every parent was staring at me and judging (and I was probably quite a sight trying to carry a crying two year old who was worried about his sister, and a kicking, screaming four year old across the zoo premises!) This was a particularly terrible example but it has become typical over the past month. I have on idea what to do when she absolutely will not listen, outright ignores me and I have my curious two year old to keep by me on top of it. I have tried going into stores with the expectation that she stays in the cart (I have her sit in the basket) but she'll climb out and run away. She tries to hide behind the car or run in circles around it while I'm unlocking it, trying to keep away from me. On and on, she's always trying to run off! She'll give me a hug and say something like 'I promise I won't run away, mama.' before we go in only to take off as soon as I ask anything of her. I would assume she's needing more attention but when she's with me, I give her and her brother undivided attention. I even have things I do with only her every weekend that are special. She's with me when I'm off work and with her father when he's off work as we're trying our best to do lots of nice things with her. She has an extremely fiery and emotional personality that I find somewhat unpredictable.
I am at the end of my ideas and feeling completely helpless.
Do any of you mamas have some ideas or experiences that you could offer me?
I am at the end of my ideas and feeling completely helpless.
Do any of you mamas have some ideas or experiences that you could offer me?
