Parenting (a redhead) is Hard Work!

I should start by saying that I love this little girl with every bone in my body, but heaven knows she tests the limits of my patience sometimes.

I've said it before...this poem perfectly describes my Lilly-Belle:
There once was a girl with a strawberry curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good, she was very very good,
And when she was bad, she was horrid!

She can be the sweetest, most loving little doll but her independent spirit will just about drive you insane at times. She's not mean or violent or rude. She simply does what she wants. Period.

We've tried a multitude of things to try and correct her behavior, but none seem to have a lasting effect. At this point, I'd like to say that she is a sweet angel at school, so thank goodness for that, but we've got to change some things at home.

The teacher in me decided to implement a behavior chart.

 I'm thinking something visual and where she has to physically move her butterfly down will help her see and remember the choices she's made. If she stays on the first three steps then she will earn a sticker for the day. Three "happy days" (not necessarily in a row) and she can get a little treat like a piece of candy or and extra cartoon. I also want the time out to be a way to think about what she's doing rather than a punishment. The punishment begins when she loses tv time or has to go to bed early. No smileys on these days. We shall see how this works.

While I was in chart making mode, I crafted this little meal chart too.

My darling is a perpetual snacker. She will eat one thing after another if she isn't fully engaged by me (which is hard for me with an infant), so now she can see what our meals look like. After each meal or snack she moves her spoon. And this way we don't need to have a yogurt, then a banana, then an oatmeal cookie, and then what can I eat now?

Like I said, parenting is hard work...but it's my favorite job ever!