Ok, so one thing about SD7 that has been bothering me is her seeming inability to respect people's personal space bubbles. This is always a problem, but was especially getting on my nerves this weekend. SO and I have told her repeatedly to get out of other people's faces, not to be climbing all over other people (us, guests), etc. We've tried nicely explaining to her why this is unacceptable, and when that has failed she's been yelled at and spanked (by SO - I try to remain punishment neutral). And yet. It's like nothing has gotten through to her. No I don't want you sitting right up on me when there's a whole living room of empty furniture, no I don't want you hanging on me when I'm trying to drive, and NO I DON'T WANT YOU HANGING ON ME EVERY F*ING MOMENT OF THE DAY. I understand that she wants attention, and she gets quality time with us every day, but this behavior makes me want to shove her away and get the F out of my own house (I don't do that, but I want to avoid the volcano-eruption effect). I've even heard SD's best friend repeatedly ask her to get off her and give her "personal mojo some space."
So, has anyone else had this sort of experience and successfully curbed this kind of behavior? What else should we do?
Aside - SD and I get along really well the majority of the time, but I often find that I have to mentally prepare myself for the onslaught of affection this child has. I feel bad rejecting her sometimes, but it is absolutely exhausting. I couldn't even hold SO's hand yesterday without SD whining about feeling "left out" when she was walking right there with us. It's not like we send her to her room to be rid of her - she's an active member of the family.