The Tough One

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a hundred times after I tell someone how tough and aggressive Paxten can be: "it's because she is the second child and has to be tough to keep up with her sister."

Maybe this is true in most families, and I assume it is, but Paxten is not any tougher because of Presley; however, Presley is definitely tougher because of Paxten, and I'm serious.  Let me count the ways. (Actually, this is only a few examples of the countless number of times P2, 20 months old,  has hurt P1, who will be 4 in January.)

A few weeks ago, Paxten was sitting on the couch by Presley, looked up at Lora, and without turning her gaze away from Lora, grabbed Presley's hair and yanked it..... for about the one thousandth time.  Presley cried, Paxten got in trouble.

Recently, I walked in a room to Presley crying while Paxten was hitting her over the head with a coaster.  I slapped Paxten's hand that held the coaster and told her no.  Now both girls were crying.

Also recently, Presley was going potty like a big girl and Paxten went into the bathroom, and then all of the sudden Presley was crying.  Lora went in and found Paxten yanking Presley's hair while she was trying to go potty.

Finally, during Sunday night's bath Presley started crying because Paxten grabbed a cup of water and threw water in Presley's eyes.  I've had several conversations with Presley about what to do when someone is mean to her at school, and I always tell her to say 'NO!' and leave or "run away."  On Sunday, I reminded Presley of this, and she said, "I can't run in the bath tub," while she was crying.  It made me laugh.

This is very hard for me to deal with.  First of all, I wish Presley was tougher, and I feel bad that she always gets hurt; however, I am so grateful for how sweet Presley is.  Presley has never retaliated.  Maybe she doesn't know what to do.  Maybe she's not aggressive or maybe she's minding us, but whatever it is, she is just so very sweet and it breaks my heart some times.  The ironic thing is that Paxten is also very sweet.  I don't think she wants to hurt Presley because she always gives her a hug and a kiss after she hurts her, but I think she is just trying to see what she can get away with.  Presley and Paxten are best of friends, and they play really well together.  Paxten looks up to Presley and tries to copy her in everything she does.  Presley was born to be a big sister and Paxten was born to be a tough little sister to make her older sister tougher.  I love both of my girls so much, and I know this is just a phase, but it can be challenging at times.