Dear Mom,

It sounds as if your lovely household is evidence that there are indeed those times when too many mommies can be one too many. Your little girl sounds delightful and she is certainly a joy I am sure as she 'mothers' everyone including you.

I would suggest that you and she sit quietly and have a talk about the challenges that you are seeing in her behavior. Perhaps she can admit to some insights that will explain her nature. It may be time that she work independently in her room or another room of the house. It could be that the distractions that she is creating is more a result of her inability to focus on the work at hand.

I would not give her 'school work' such as writing off sentences as a punishment. This can create a potential challenge down the road. If school work is used as a punishment then it is only a matter of time before all school work is seen as a punishment. Try instead to appeal to her sense of duty and helpfulness. Give her concrete tasks to do that are grown up in nature. Explain that she is afforded this special privilege because she is the oldest and you fairly depend upon her. If she disappoints with argumentative behavior etc. take away the privilege.

Sometimes we moms naturally seem to expect so much more from our first born. It is our desire that we pass along the best of who we are to those we love so much.

Let us pray together a Hail Mary and offer up our prayers for all those that must remember the anniversary of Amish School Shooting. Let us ask that the Lord inhabit their services and fill all present and beyond with the peace that passes all understanding. Amen..

Sending out a prayer,

Rita Munn