Going 10 Rounds!

Somdays, like today, I feel like Rocky Balboa trying to stay in it for all 10 rounds in the boxing ring! Sad thing is that my opponent is my 5 year old daughter, Alyssa. To some people a 5 year old girl might seem like no match. These people don't know my daughter.
God knows that I love her more than my own life. But oh, how she tries my patience to the limit! She pushes me and bends me all day long, until I feel I just might break.
Today is Wednesday, and that means I take Alyssa to gymnastics class. She LOVES going to this class. She really likes learning gymnastics.
From early this morning, I could tell it was going to be a day of acting out and sassy attitutes from her. She wasn't listening to me at all, she would purposely do things I asked her not to do, and she has had a little problem this week with waiting until the very last minute because she doesn't want to stop playing, and then peeing a little in her pants.
First round- the peeing in the pants at 5 years old. I have ZERO patience with her on this one. Because she is SO smart and knows better, not to mention will be in all day Kindergarten in two months. I can not tolerate this action. She has had a peeing episode at least 4 times the past week. This on top of trying to get Isabella interested in potty training- I just can't take it!
The next round- defiant and naughty behavior. She knows the difference between good and bad things. She knows the rules of our house. Why does she not follow them?
She tries so hard to out smart me. Although she doesn't have the ability to outsmart me, she does have the ability to wear me down. Keeping up with her 24/7 is an exhausting and full time job. Once I am worn down and tired, I end up allowing her to get away with a few things that I shouldn't. This obviously isn't good because she thinks she has that round.
The next round- the sassy mouth! This one has just recently started up. I just cringe when I think of her as a teenager if this is how she is now at 5. What makes her think she can just come right out and tell me, "NO!" when I ask her to do something? Or that she can stick her tongue out at m when she doesn't like what I'm saying to her?
When I was a child, there was one sure fire way to tick my parents off real quick, and that was to lip off to them. We were certain to have our mouth slapped. My father did not tolerate us talking sassy to my mother. Rightfully so I think.
The mouth slap and sending them to their room to think about how they have acted is a displinary action I have adopted, and as I remember myself, it gets their attention right away.
I could tell as the morning went on that Alyssa was in top form, and a little slap on the mouth was not going to sink in well enough for her to get that I meant business.
What is the next thing my parents did when I wasn't getting something?
Take away privledges.
This is something that alway hurts the child most. Getting something they love to do taken away because of bad actions. That will get them!
So I cleaned Alyssa up from her little accident, and told her she was not allowed to go to gymnastics class today because of her poor behavior. She of course went crying to her room and told me how mean I was.
Once she and I cooled down a little while in our seperate corners, I entered her room and found her crying on her bed. This broke my heart because I knew she was devastated not getting to go to class. But I knew I had her attention for sure. So I was then able to have one of those good mother/daughter conversation. I really felt like she was listening.
We talked about what she did wrong, and how she knows better than to act that way. How she is to be a better example to her little sister. How she can't act like that when she is a big girl and going to school. I told her how it breaks my heart when I have to get upset and disipline her, but that it is my job as her mother to make sure she grows up to be a good girl and to do good things her life. Then I gave her a big momma hug and held her tight a long while and told her how much I loved her.
For a minute, I thought to myself that this horrible morning might have brought a good outcome afterall. She might be learning what she needs to learn. Right?
Then she looks up and tells me through some tears, "It breaks my heart when you get mad at me. I love you."
UGH!! Round 10-goes to Alyssa!