Question
We are having a very difficult time with a certain 7 year old young lady who has been getting very sulky, cranky, and whiny about her chores. These are chores that generally take about 15 min total per day all put together, and she knows how to do them. She can do them well. But she's getting into a mental place where I guess they seem overwhelming to her and she'd rather sit down and pout or perhaps have a tantrum. Or suddenly be afraid to do things, like be alone outside while she cleans the trash out of the van (she can walk all over the neighborhood alone to see friends and I never hear a peep about that!). Or stub her toe and begin to howl and carry on like she broke her leg and then screech about how mean I am when I walk away after having checked to see it's okay. Or try endless ways to get me to help her and fall apart again when I tell (nicely, gently) that I am working on my job over here and that is her job. She is grounded the next day to her room when it progresses to all-out screaming fit, but she still has to her chores the next day, and oh boy, I'm getting tired of dealing with this every.single.day. When she's in a good mood she can fly through these things and really is a great help.
