Confusing Kid

It is these kinds of things that just confuse me. Last night we ate dinner and at dinner, Jason and I decided to go swimming with the kids afterward. As he and I cleaned up the kitchen, the kids got changed into their swim suits. 2 of our children were ready to go so I escorted them out to the pool area. The last of the small kids was done and C opened the back door for her so that she could join us. I saw see wearing her swimsuit at the time and she saw us swimming. I figured she was going to come in.

The three small kids and Daddy and I splashed and played in the pool. The water is cooling off, the pool was shaded by the house, and it was nearing time to get the small ones ready for bathes. WE had been out there 45 minutes in total. C finally came out. I was already drying off and calling a last minute warning to the little ones. She was disappointed that we were leaving. She tried to tell us to come back after the kids were bathed but that wouldn't make much sense as we shower with the younger ones and we told her that we wanted to relax in front of the tv since we hadn't seen eachother the previous night. She was SO upset.

We went in to bathe the kids and she stayed outside- telling me to shut off the radio. Then once I did it, telling me she changed her mind and to turn it on. Games. So many games. She came in about 20 minutes later with a last attempt to have us come out once the kids were cleaned. WE declined and she went outside crying, pouting, and clearly sending a message.

I honestly believe she NEEDS to control me and her father. I asked her what she was doing the whole time we were outside and she said she was playing inside. She would have no opportunity to control us if she chose to swim with us. And she would have had to share her time with the younger ones, too. She pouted for about an hour and of course came in shortly after she communicated her disgust out in the pool. After a shower and time to "cool off" she did reaclimate which is a good step for her. We didn't give it much attention and that seemed to work for this instance.