Need help, Why is she lying?

My step daughter (9) and I have been struggling for the last 4 months. She has beeen lying about a lot of things, she throws fits on me and her dad everytime she made to do something that she doesn't want too. While I know that some of this is pretty normal, I am concern that this could be something deeper. As some of you may know of our past problem. I am concerened that the lying isn't safe, we have discussed this with her about being honest. Her therapy ended and they said she was fine awhile ago but is she? Is this her trying to just push just to get her way? I mean she was my shadow before summer, and she can back from spending summer at her mom's house and it has changed? We have tried talking to her but she wont tell us anything. She also tells her dad when she is mad that she wants to live at her mom's, but like last weekend she wanted her dad to come get her right then and there because she was mad at her mom, and didn't want to be with her either.
So is this a game she is playing, should I be concerned about all the lying, and I want my way now or I don't love you. I mean kids upset and so forth , they lie when in trouble or to prevent being in trouble, but their is a fine line there. She knows it is important to tell the truth and to be honest. She also know that we can't keep secrets because secrets can be hurtful.
So what would you do? Do you think that what happened is being resurfaced? even though there is no other signs but this one? Or is it that she just wants her way?
I am confused and want to make sure that she is okay, but I wont tolerate lying, just because she wants to throw fits. And she is very close to her dad and she is doing the same thing to him, lying, throwing fits.
Like last night, she had to wirte her spelling words, because she was struggling in spelling, so we make her write and practice her spelling words, and it has been working, she is getting a A now, but we keep helping her, she was told to go write the word. She turned the music on full blast, we had already told her she couldn't listen to a mp3 player, as she need to pratice writeing and saying the word, so she turned the radio on, we just told her to turn it off. About 10 minutes later she came out and said she ws taking a shower, we told her she need to finsh writing her words , she went and got in the shower anyways and turned the radio back on for the second time full blast.

When she got out of the shower, we asked her why she did this, instead of doing what we asked, her comment ws I wasn't going to school smelling like a dirty dog, when asked why she turned the radio on when we had already told her to turn it off, because i wanted to listen to it.
When we told her that she could of took the shower after she was finished with the shower, and could have listen to music after she wrote her words, and that she disobeyed our request, she just kept saying, I wasn't going to school and smelling like a dirty dog.
We make her take a shower every night, so why did she say that?

2009-02-24T10:21:58Z

amber- yeah they said therapy was successful, and so forth.
Her behavior is fine unless she doesn't want to answer your question or she doesn't want to do something.
Last night, she got three butts smacks for being disrespectful. because she was screaming at me, and started the whole I am going to roll my eyes at you and not listen.
Normally we ground, stand in the corner, or take things away, we don't spank unless their behavior is really out there and completely unacceptable.

She is also like I said having the same issues at her mom's, so maybe her mom did say something, but I really don't think that is the full case as her mom is much more lenient, but she has the same problem with her there.

AmberP2009-02-24T10:10:54Z

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She sounds like she is doing things to try to get her own way, yes... but i would think that at 9 years old being that blatantly disrespectful could definitely have deeper meaning! Especially knowing all that has happened.
What are you doing punishment wise when she is doing things like this?
Does she do things other than this that maybe you just aren't picking up on in terms of her emotional state?
She has been through counseling and all that, they say she is fine... but once again knowing the history... that could mean Absolutely NOTHING!
I suggest you take her to a behavioral place and get her evaluated for services honestly. See if wrap around services are available in your state like they are available in mine!
She has been through a lot, but it's not an excuse to act this way...


HMMMMM... is she starting to go through puberty?? I know it sounds kinda young but I hit it at about 8 1/2, maybe that is part of the problem..

prsm232009-02-24T09:56:25Z

I don't know what the previous story was, but it sounds like she needs to see a psychiatrist. She seems to need to be in control of somethings and that might be why she is lying. That way she can control your reactions and what you believe. She probably disobeyed and took the shower because she wanted to prove that she could do whatever she wanted. It is a game, but it's dangerous to let it continue because she may end up having trouble facing reality one day. I think she should see a counselor or psychiatrist.

miss d2009-02-24T20:11:20Z

i think she wants you and your husbands to give her more attention.for what ive seen thru my experince she just try to make your life more messy but deep down she doesnt mean to do that.why dont you and her go out sometimes mybe shoppng together or girl chat .so that u may understands her than her own mom.sometimes kids can be complicated but that doesnt mean anything.u should ask her y she keep doing rude things to u and husband,what went wrong.u should make her feel comfort or make she feel that she can trust u so that she will stop behave like this.once she feel that u can b trusted i think there will b no prob anymore.she is just confuse and feel neglected by you.its not yr fault but its her that need yr attention.

lulu2009-02-24T09:49:03Z

this is just a general answer but maybe her mom says stuff about you to her daughter and making her think that you're not someone she has to listen to, maybe your step-daughter is just going through a phase wear she throws fits and lies, you can try going to allexperts.com and asking one of their experts. their opinion might be more reliable

Jacob2009-02-24T09:43:54Z

she's adjusting. time's the great healer.

the oxen are slow but the Earth is patient.