Frustration

I'm beginning to HATE that word. It's becoming a normal part of my way of feeling. I'm typing this while waiting for my in laws to come watch the kids SO DH and I can go to our church for the 'Fireproof' Marriage Study. I'm beginning to think this is not a good time for us to be doing it.

During the night Miss A was up with another one of her screaming fits yelling 'I WANT MY DADDY' at the top of her lungs. We've been putting a gate across her door otherwise she gets out and wonders here there and everywhere. Last night I just let her scream it out, eventually she got back in bed. Well @ 630 AM she started up again by saying to me 'mommy I get dressed?' I said in a little bit. And she followed with screams which woke C'man up and got DH and I against one another. I don't have a problem letting her scream it out UNTIL she started kicking and kicking the gate across her door frame. Or the constant screaming after 15 min. I think she should have been told, by DH since he rarely gets on her in any form, that this was enough screaming and it has better stop now. DH said that by even going in to her room or talking to her is going to give her the satisfaction that she got our attention. I do not disagree with that approach entirely just after 30+ min of such behavior is to long to not get SOME sort of attention.

What I got was a bunch of tears, crying on my part and DH saying he knows what he is doing. Me crying that she is disrespecting and while I agree with letting her 'work it out' letting her kick endlessly at the gate, screaming, etc has got stop.

I've read Dr Dobson's book, The Strong Willed Child, I've talked with other moms and I know that if we don't nip it NOW it's going to continue to get more and more out of hand.

Eventually she kicked the gate down and DH went in there and told her enough and that she'd better get in her bed. When she is quiet he will come back and get her, but only then. Well GUESS WHAT!! she cried a little longer and then went back to her bed and was QUIET!! But then DH went and got her and our day carried on. No talk about why that behavior is not acceptable. Nothing. 0!!

I don't want to turn this in to a DH bashing post. I do agree with some of the things he did, little as they may be. What I want to know, hear about, etc are do you and your partner have these kind of discipline issues?? Do you know someone who does?? Or most importantly, do you know a counselor that could help us in dealing with Miss A. And honestly I don't think distance is an issue if we can communicate via video, emails, etc. I just need help. I'd prefer a Christian counselor and looking on line via Focus on the Family, there aren't any in our area. Not even in Omaha that are listed on there web page.