It’s official: kindergarten has transformed my sweet four-year-old into a little tyrant. Yes, I know that starting school is a significant transition for young children, but I was confident in my daughter’s abilities. She is intelligent, compassionate, and has a remarkable emotional insight for her age. She enjoys meeting new friends and has been fully toilet-trained for nearly two years. I thought she was ready for this new chapter. I imagined sending her off to school each morning, spending quality time at home with her little brother, and then happily reuniting at the end of the day. I was looking forward to her sharing stories about the exciting activities and friendships she had developed, alongside the accolades from her teachers for being such a wonderful child. Oh, how naive I was!
Instead, when I pick her up from school and ask about her day, her response is often, “I can’t remember.” What do you mean you can’t remember? You spent six hours in school and can’t recall a single thing? Did you fall asleep the moment I dropped you off? Did someone flash a light in your eyes like in Men in Black to erase your memory? I thought school was meant to enhance children’s learning!
The real chaos begins when we return home. Somehow, she seems to think that being in school elevates her status. She behaves like a queen, parading around as if she owns the place. The rules we previously established no longer seem to apply. “Oh, you want me to tidy up my toys? No thanks!” “Oh, you’d like me to eat my dinner? I’d rather starve!” I find myself wanting to bring her down a notch, reminding her that she’s still just a little kid who can’t count to 50 and doesn’t know how to read yet. Chill out, kiddo; you still need help in the bathroom!
Speaking of which, this little girl, who has been toilet-trained for almost two years, has suddenly decided to hold it all in during school hours. By the time I pick her up, her eyes resemble those of a cartoon character after holding it in all day—interesting behavior for someone who talks about “pee” and “poop” as if she’s auditioning for a comedy show.
Her recent attitude has forced me to rethink my discipline strategies. The usual three-minute timeouts are no longer effective. I’ve had to take more drastic measures and hit her where it counts: the TV remote. She loses her screen time privileges when her attitude spirals. Of course, for any parent juggling a toddler and a baby, taking away TV time is a punishment for me too. A little Doc McStuffins can do wonders when I’m trying to nurse the baby, prepare a school lunch, and find clean clothes for everyone.
So, how can I curb my daughter’s newfound sass? I realize that I may not be able to change her behavior immediately. I need to be patient and recognize that she is simply a little girl navigating a big world. School is a whole new experience for her, filled with learning, social interactions, and adapting to a new routine with unfamiliar adults. While it can be frustrating and I sometimes long for the days of carefree play with my sweet two-year-old, I have to embrace the growing girl she is becoming. Before I know it, she’ll be off to face new challenges, and I’ll find myself reminiscing about those silly days when she couldn’t recall what she did five minutes ago and found humor in the simplest things.
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Summary
Transitioning to kindergarten has drastically changed my daughter’s behavior, turning her from a sweet child into a defiant little monarch. While I struggle to adapt to her newfound attitude and the challenges of parenting a school-aged child, I recognize that this is part of her growth. I need to be patient as she adjusts to the complexities of school life, and in time, she will find her balance.