DD is 4. She is bright, creative, and funny. But Lordy, can she be naughty!!
Three was HELL. Four is MUCH better, but still needs some improvement.
I lost my job on April Fool's Day. (Reeeeal funny.
Since then, I've been pretty depressed and have been sleeping a lot lately. I haven't been able to drag myself out of bed to get her to daycare except for last Thursday (so 1 day out of 6) when I had an appointment with my counselor.
Today, I took a nap on the couch. She was in the living room watching TV. I was RIGHT THERE. When I woke up, there was chocolate (from her chocolate bunny) rubbed into the rug in front of the TV. Random pieces of paper had been cut into TINY pieces all over. Candy dumped everywhere. Easter gifts all over. Nail polish remover dumped onto the carpet. The tops of both feet were dark purple from the nail polish I bought Saturday night. I was LIVID.
I walked into the kitchen and she said (from the living room) "Look in the bucket." "What bucket?" "The one by the sink."
On the floor by the sink was the plastic pail she had been given for the Easter hunt at DP's family's. In it? A puddle of something and a long snake shapped piece of chocolate. Clarification led to me finding out it was POOP! She SH!T in the bucket?! She's nearly 4.5 and has been potty trained since just before 3. Since she first pooped in the potty, she has NEVER pooped ANYWHERE else. EVER. But today she pooped in a bucket?!
I am soooo pissed off! I couldn't even form words! I stuck her in the tub and told her she couldn't come out until her feet weren't purple anymore. She did a decent job, but they are still purple. While she was in the tub, I gave her her nightly meds. She came out and sat next to me. I told her I didn't want to talk to her. She was very sad and asked why. I told her I was very angry. She ended up falling asleep about 10-15 minutes later.
I have NO IDEA what to do. DP is pissed (I called to tell him what happened) at her for doing it, and me for not punishing/discipling right away. I told him I couldn't form a sentence let alone discipline right then. I told him I would figure something out before tomorrow. He said I couldn't wait and I should have done it right away. He says she should not be allowed to watch TV for a week. But she's 4.5, taking TV away hasn't worked before, and I think she will forget that it's because of pooping in the bucket before the week is over. I just don't know what to do!
ANY insight will help! PLEASE, I BEG of you! I am completely at a loss as to how to punish this behavior and prevent it from happening again. I've been dealing with the mess for a year and a half. It was getting sooo much better. But this behavior is coming between my partner and I and the relationship I have with my daughter. Help!!
