My DH had knee surgery last week. SD12 wanted to stay home from school so she could be there but we told her no (she didn't seem to genuinely want to be there and she had activities she couldn't miss). Her friend's parents were supposed to bring her home from her after school activity. She called me and asked if she could stay with her friend! She was soooo concerned about her dad that she wanted to stay home from school...but yet she didn't even want to see him after his surgery! I didn't tell him because I didn't want to hurt his feelings...gotta tell someone! I told her she needs to stop thinking only about herself and start caring about other people for a change.

She is currently grounded because she hasn't been doing her chores. All she has to do to get un-grounded is do her chores correctly for one week. She just won't. I heard her talking on the phone when she is grounded from it and walked in the room and she hid the phone. The next day I hear the radio she is grounded from and I walk in the room and she jumps and turns it off. Like her jumping and me seeing what she is doing isn't a huge clue...she denies she even did those things!

She is such a frustrating child. I threatened if she doesn't get her chores under control and start respecting her parents and our rules that she will not be doing her after-school dance anymore. I just paid $300 for her dance so she better straighten up. I give up with her! I don't think we are hard enough on her (obviously, she was caught doing two things she is grounded from and her dad knows and she gets NO punishment). I was trying to "step-back and let him" but I think instead I will come up with a punishment for her. Any ideas?