Tough Love's Tough to Do

I was probably too quick to conclude that Sienna showed no sign of having to adjust to the new environment. Never like this before. Her lips are so dry and there are sores on both sides. Let’s not to have any candy snack, I advised.

On Sunday, as soon as we sat down for the shadow puppet show, our friend was sticking three chocolate bars in front of her. Sienna didn’t take them with me on the side. On our way home, she gave me two bars, hinting she took them but wanted to save them for later. I praised her for her power to resist. Back home, I turned around to find her disposing one wrapper into the waste basket.

I was not happy and re-enforced by privilege taking away penalty. The point was not to have the candy bar or not. It was the fact, I explained, that she created a scenario for me to believe that she didn’t eat the thing. She knew she was wrong to do that and returned to her own room.

A few minutes later, she appeared outside the kitchen door. Some white object came flying down. It was a paper airplane she made. Another few minutes later, a note was slipped underneath the door. I opened it and it read: I love you mommy. From Sienna.

It’s been a couple of days. The penalty is still in place. All the time, I feel bad about having to be so stern and her wise appease effort made it even harder. These are some of the incidents where I don’t feel so sure about.

If one day she has reasons to blame me, I’d offer this incident to help her justify.