I was proud...for a moment...
We took SD7 out on our boat this past Sunday, with several other family members, and of course she was her typical hyperactive self. No one caught a single fish because she would NOT stay quiet for ANYTHING. Which, we pretty much knew that was going to happen anyway. We were out on the lake for a majority of the day, so everyone was hot, tired, and ready to get home to the AC!
SD7 is one who likes to continually ask questions, to the point of annoyance. And, she is one who will NOT be quiet and stop asking after she gets a response either. Needless to say, her constant motor-mouthing caused DH to snap at her very sharply! And, par for the course, SD7 went running to her bedroom bawling her eyes out. (BOO HOO! If she'd learn to BE QUIET when she's told to then this wouldn't happen.)
At any rate, I was SO proud of DH for snapping at her...not because I wanted her feelings hurt, but because he needs to get on to her more for her overactive behavior. My proud moment faded rather quickly though when he came to me shortly after and told me he went in and apologized to her. WHAT?! NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!! You do NOT need to apologize to her for that! I certainly would not have! Maybe later tell her WHY she got in trouble, but no apology was necessary. That's how he rolls though. Some day he'll learn.
Does she get enough exercise
Does she get enough exercise or display symptoms that meet the criteria for ADD or ADHD? Snapping at her won't solve anything. Even if it's done consistently. He needs to have consistent consequences like no tv, no video games, or take away something she likes for awhile.
Oh yes, she gets plenty of
Oh yes, she gets plenty of exercise! She's constantly go go go. I'll mention to DH about taking things away from her. I just hope he can stick to it. I really feel he's afraid to punish her much because he doesn't want her to "not like him" and not want to come over. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if she didn't come over, but it would hurt DH.
I'm not so sure I'd label her as ADD or ADHD. When she comes to our house for the weekend, it's a HUGE release for her. She's not allowed to act wild and crazy at BM's house, and I don't know how often she's allowed to go outside and play with her friends in BM's neighborhood either. And, DH has always let her act like a "wild child" in the past when she's with him, so that's all she knows when she comes over.
This happens in my home as
This happens in my home as well. SD7 and SS17 will throw little plastic/rubber blow up balls around inside our home and try and make it into laundry baskets. Of course, they get carried away, and knock things over. DH just sits in the recliner and lets them do it. I've voiced my opinions before about throwing balls in the house, in everyone's presence. It falls on deaf ears. Eventually, not only with something of mine get knocked over...but, it will also get broken. And, the Skids will probably just laugh about it.
Had it been my choice, she
Had it been my choice, she wouldn't have gone with us. But, it was our time with her and we had family in from out of state who wanted to go out on the boat. We had to take her.
I too wonder about taking
I too wonder about taking kids to inappropriate places where they don't have anything age related to do and anything they might do could be dangerous. An hour perhaps but then the fun wears off for everyone including the kid.
Kids go through phases of asking questions non-stop. They can be incessant learners and unless they're asking repetitive questions of things you know they already have answers to I wouldn't assume they're doing it maliciously. I know you want to throttle them but its a normal phase for some.
This is one of those situations where a quiet kid is usually a dumb kid.
We didn't get to fish for
We didn't get to fish for long, obviously. SD7 just wanted her way immediately instead of giving others the chance to enjoy what they wanted to do as well. In this case, she wanted to swim instead of fishing first. The fishing didn't last long. So, she got her way.
As for the questions...the incident that provoked the snap response from DH was one of, "Can I have the keys...can I have the keys...can I have the keys..." after DH was trying to unload the boat, and communicate with other adults around, as we were getting ready to go inside our home. SD7 doesn't have a quiet, timid voice either. It's loud and very high-pitched. It was one of those instances that, in my opinion, required a snap response. SD7 just doesn't know when to tone it down!
Of course, sometimes no one
Of course, sometimes no one catches fish even when no one says a word. Adults should know that.
We were fully aware that we
We were fully aware that we may or may not catch anything. We even told the family that was with us that. The point is, had SD7 just listened to us and sat quietly for a little bit, watch the fish jump and birds swooping down, there may have been a better chance. We gave up and let the kids swim. We had to attempt to fish in the morning, before it got too hot. Next time, we won't take SD7 out when we have family who wants to fish. I'll make sure of that.
Well, firstly I'd say taking
Well, firstly I'd say taking her on a fishing boat where quiet was needed was a recipe for disaster, but I do understand that at 7 she's old enough to listen to what she's told and the constant asking of the same question, when she's been told NO, can be very wearing! But, she is still too young to be expected to stay quiet all day, so maybe her Dad can arrange to have her when you can all do kid friendly stuff, but at the beginning of each outing he should sit her down, explain in very definite terms what is and what is not acceptable to you both, then he must STICK TO IT! Once you've answered any question, ignore her when she keeps asking, just interrupt her and tell her what's going to happen next! Believe me, you have a chance to train her into to your lifestyle at 7, it's too late when you take on grown up skids!!!