Creativity?

This sweet child of mine.

We've struggled lately. I love her to death, but the thought that keeps coming to my mind is, "where is your brain?"

I know that sounds harsh, but this child is always pushing the limits and my patience. She doesn't do the obvious thing to do. I'm always faced with some new challenge as I raise her. Some new thing or problem I have to solve.

For instance.
- She decided it was a good idea to CUT MAX'S HAIR, the other day. After I've threatened her life after her last 3 hair cutting incidents!
- I catch her setting up camp in the back of Grandpa's truck that's parked out on the busy street in front of our house. We only have a 1/2 acre forested backyard to play in. And she leads her sisters out on the street!
- She has been digging in my sewing box and cutting up my saved material to "make clothes for her stuffed animals."
- She is constantly sneeking candy around the house. I had to throw out their whole bag of candy because they were breaking the "asking rule."

And the list could go on and on.

I feel bad for her, because she is always in trouble and I feel like I'm always loosing my cool with her. She does push my limits. It's like it physically hurts her to be obedient to me. If I say put the sweater on, she takes it off. If I say one thing, she'll do the other. It's just a battle.

But then I started thinking that it is probably because she is the oldest and she is always breaking new ground around here. The other two girls don't seem to phase me or do such naughty things, but I think they are watching Gabriela to learn the limits. Poor Gabriela. She probably feels like she's the first one over a field of land mines, trying to figure out what things are going to set her mom and dad off.

I also believe that she has an amazingly creative mind. She is always thinking outside the box. She will make an octopus out of a DOTS candy box. She makes clothes out of fabric and brads. She is very imaginative. Sometimes I wonder if I'm stepping on her creativity when I am yelling at her about constantly getting into my stuff. Miguel reminded me that those types of people are usually the most successful in life, because they CAN think outside the box.

The point is: I'm Hard On Her

My parents were hard on me.

Does that just come with being the oldest?

How can I change it?