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Exceptions to Rules
Congrats on your new daughter ... while consistency can be so important, just as important is flexibility and the ability for the child to come to you with problems ... even if as simple as "I'm hungry" .... she needs to understand that you are always there ... and that while she was allowed to fix a sandwich last night that was an exception to the rule ... for the next few nights, unless you have a snack ritual, I would start asking her about 8:15 ... time for snack? ... if you are hungry now is the time ... make her answer you - then she has given you her 'choice' which you must then stick to ... no matter how much shrieking is going on ...
Another suggestion, depending on her past placements or even situation in birthfamily home, is to determine if she was denied a snack or dinner for whatever reason and possibly a healthy snack can be placed on her dresser (fruit, granola bar, jello + one small snack size candy bar per day til she gets the need down to nothing) which she is allowed to eat at any time ... takes away the fears of not having something if needed. Hope that made sense.
Keep us posted ... many challenges are ahead ... may of us here have been through them and 10 pieces of advice will find the right one just for you and your situation at the time.
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