What's with the brattiness???

[BurgundyElephant]

I really shouldn't call my daughter a brat. But right now (for about the last ten days or so) she's just been seriously pissing me off. GAAA!

We believe in gentle discipline and don't do time outs or spanking. I try and redirect and stay involved. BUT, lately when she and her sister are playing alone, they are fighting and DD#1 will hit. NOT acceptable. I get so angry! DD#2 will come crying and I call DD#1 into the room and she has to sit by me and tell me what's going on. This uses to calm her down but it's like she's just acting crazy to be contrary.

My girls are on a strict diet, so I'm 100% positive it's nothing in their diets. The only thing I can think of is birthdays and Christmas are coming up and there has been way too much "entitlement talking" if you know what I mean. I get very frustrated.

She'll run around the room for no reason. Jumping off the furniture over and over again. I get headaches from noise EVERY day.

I just need advice. How can I: Stop the fighting? Stop the hitting? Stop the running around inside the house? (We have a nice playset outside but it's been pouring and they can't go outside for very long. And yes, I get to the children's museum/science center/zoo often.) And side note, Stop the interrupting when I'm talking to another adult? :

[Peppamint]

Are you talking about your dd or mine?

[BurgundyElephant]

busybusymama. So I know I'm not alone. Our kids are close to the same age, too.

[Peppamint]

It feels like she's almost 6 going on 16.

Time will tell if this work, but what I'm doing now is reminding her that if she isn't in the mood to be kind or remember the 'rules' she should spend some quiet time in her room. Not as a punishment so much as to show that we cannot hurt other people or treat our belongings badly. It gives her a chance to recharge or re-set, which seems to help. I do the same thing for ds, he gets overstimulated easily and really needs down-time... some quiet play gets rid of the cranky guy and brings back my lovable little man.

[Zach'smom]

Sounds like my DS. He starts to get a bit more "spirited" this time of year. He picks up on all the excitement and has a harder time controling himself.

[Satori]

Sounds a lot like my 6 yr old, she's seriously been pissing me off the last few months to the point I look forward to the hospital trips that she doesn't go to! I get 3 days alone with the baby at the hospital next week and I'm seriously like : I get a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yippee!!!!!!!!!!!! Its horrible to admit but dang, I need a break from this child!