What Patience?

As a nanny and daycare provider, I have always leaned towards the younger children. It's not that I had a favorite child, per say, but I did prefer infants and young toddlers compared to preschoolers. As a babysitter, you're not really around children enough to get annoyed at them, but as a nanny and daycare provider, I was usually in the one year old room because I enjoyed being around them more than preschoolers. I've often been ask how I can remain calm in a room with 15 or 16 one year olds or how I managed two newborns, two-one year olds, two-two year olds, and a nearly four year old. Truth be told, the nearly four year old was more trouble than the others combined.

Seemingly over night, I'm having nightmares from the spoiled brat nearly four year old I dealt with a few years ago. A has gone from the sweetest kid to a hell on wheels three year old. And I can't deal with it. No, seriously. I can't fucking deal with it. I'd rather be dealing with the 1 year old Octuplets than A.

Nothing seems to be working in terms of discipline. She laughs at time out. She laughs when you take away her cartoons. She laughs when you tell her you're going to box up her toys to give them to other kids. She doesn't listen to a word I tell her.

I know it's because of a combination of things, but those reasons aren't enough to back me from the edge. I know she's acting like this because, well, she's three. I know she's acting like this because her Mom is a bitch to her. I know she's acting like this because she wants attention. I know she's acting like this because we're in a car or running errands four to eight hours a day. I know she's acting like this because she doesn't take naps for the most part. I know she's acting like this because she watches too much SpongeBob and iCarly.

But, I can't help to feel frustrated. I can't change her mother being a bitch despite my best efforts. I can't help there aren't enough hours in a day. I can't help that we have to drop off and pick up the crew every day to two different colleges and sometimes their schedules have a gap that isn't big enough to go back home, but is long enough to force us into errand running. I can't help that if she takes a nap, she doesn't go to sleep on time at night. I can't help that SpongeBob and iCarly give me just enough time to take a shower, blog, or work online for a few minutes at a time.

I'm just not dealing with things very well lately. My life stressors are great enough without the new behavioural issues with A. I don't want to spank. I hate yelling. I just want her to enjoy what she has, to listen to me, and to be a well behaved child.

I'm trying to convince my Mom and Grandma to come down next month during the crew's spring break to help watch A so I can get some work done. I've even debated on looking into a mother's day out type program to send her to a day or two a week. I can't wait until the fall for her to go to preschool for a break. I need it sooner. I needed it yesterday. I'm at my breaking point.