When it feels like it's NEVER Enough- PART 2...maybe 3+

It's amazing to witness the behavior of children...and to analyze whether or not they discern between right or wrong.  Sometimes maybe we have too many expectations...but boy, even if they are young, sometimes what they do really hurts!  For instance, some of you may know about that kitchen I put together after 4 hours of fine motor skilled labor...to find that she drew all over it with crayons. She knows to draw on paper...but i know she want's to get those creative juices flowing...and she is only 3...BUT....it wasn't easy for me to take in.  She doesn't care how much work I put in...she has no clue....i understand that.  HOWEVER...it's never too young to learn the lessons of appreciation right?  We took the kitchen away for more than a week.  She definitely missed it...and she promised to take care of it.  Hmmmm.....fine then.  After a week and 1/2, kitchen and crayons returned, but with reassurance that Emily knew where to draw on.  She replies, "On Paper!"

PART DEUX?-
Well...Emily has outgrown her toddler bed.  In comparison, she is probably as tall as any other 5 year old....however, the only difference is that she is only 3 years old.  I tend to forget that, and sometimes maybe treat her as if she is older....but always need to take a step back and say...she is only 3. (Terrible twos have nothing on 3's by the way)

We've decided to make her room from colors of neutrality, to making it a pretty...ALL OUT GIRLY....room.  We've invested in great quality quilt from PBKids and outfitted her room with pretty flower art and everything. I know I know...you think I've learned my lesson from getting a nice wooden kitchen, but I figure if I invested in something of pretty good quality that had 5 star online reviews....I don't have to worry about purchasing another one for a great while. The one good thing that I took pleasure in was shopping for all the coordinating items to make her room pretty for her.....at least that was fun.

So Daddy, Grandpa and Mommy had spent a lot of time today getting a new full sized mattress for her convertible crib (Love that we were able to convert it from Crib-Toddler Bed now to a FULL size bed) and spending all morning to make this room her own.  Daddy was so happy and excited to see his daughter peek at her new bed. At least she didn't say "What happend to my Bed? It's DIRTY!".  As she entered her room,  Emily did have a crayon in her hand...and Daddy of course reminded her gently that she has to keep the crayons in their designated spot...and of course when Daddy asked Emily where do you use Crayons? Emily replies without hesitation - ON PAPER! In a parents mind, one would hope that's enough to reassure you.  Especially with what happened with the whole graffiti on the wooden kitchen deal.....RIGHT?

After the big unveiling of her new room....We were suprised that she insisted she take a nap (That's a first and a red flag). After her normal downtime/Nap time, I went to check on her and to wake her up.  What did I find?  First, she took the pillowcases off the pillows and I find crayons in them.  So I called Daddy into the room...since he was the one who reminded her where Crayons go.  Just before Daddy walks in, I find that Emily had drawn all over herself....AND on her new quilt.
.  Before this stirs your heart into anger....First of all, I don't blame you.  Second of All, my admiration for any experienced parent and their acquired patience continues to grow. 3rd- It's still an unpleasant situation...but geez...our responsibility as a parent is to see how we can take such a moment and turn it into something she can learn from.   Luckily Smart mommies use washable crayons....but it really made me think.  Emily is not at that age to appreciate something nice as that quilt (Number 1 reasoning in my mind...THUS...I really have no problem storing this nice quilt until Emily is mature enough to appreciate it.)  I made Emily try to put the pillowcases back on....since she so easily took it off.  About a 1/2 hour into whining that "I can't do it"....I finally got her to try....and said  "This isn't easy is it?".  She said "It's Hard".  I said..."How do you think Mommy and Daddy feels after working so hard to put this bed together for you?"

Just trying to instill a little remorse in her.  AS we sojourn through this 1st Time parenting life....I gain appreciation for any experienced parent out there.   I've come to terms that It feels AWFUL thinking and feeling Angry....especially when they are at an age where it's normal for pushing boundaries.  In my opinion...It's an unfortunate NORMAL for toddlers.  (BOOOOO on the Unfortunate NORMAL!) I don't like the way it makes me feel sometimes....and I've definitely been tested in the last couple of weeks. What gets me motivated...is how these moments of defiance become a blank canvas of teaching for the good.  What choice would you make?
ADDENDUM as of 10 minutes ago:
Just found her using her markers on our couch/toss pillows.  Lucky me, they are the color wonder markers. Unfortunately for her, she has been banned indefinitely from using any writing devices except for her magna doodle.