Normal Pre-Teen Stuff or Pain Attitudes?

Mary has become very irritable lately. She is snappy and short with everyone, well everyone here.

Clara is the same way.

They are fighting and arguing over everything, and I do mean everything. In Clara's defense though, Mary does enjoy butting in on things that aren't her business and she does love to correct Clara or try to seem like she is doing things better than Clara.

But even when Mary is not doing that, Clara will snap at her for saying just about anything.

Mary is usually my helper, my laid back chick. She is usually fairly sweet, at least to me, and she hasn't been recently. She doesn't want to do anything. She complains a lot. She isn't grateful for the things she has.

And it just goes on and on for the both of them.

Clara is doing this thing now where she complains a lot. She only half listens and ends up in trouble for not following simple instructions, (That's actually been a long standing issue though). She talks back, she rolls her eyes, she scoffs at me and her Daddy. She is extremely irritable and touchy and annoyingly sarcastic.

I can not decide if it is normal pre-teen attitude, or if it is related to the both of them being in pain all of the time. I have to guess it is probably a little of both, right? I mean, I know that if I am in pain, I am kind of snippy too. Or a lot snippy, actually. So I am leaning toward that being the answer.

However, there are some days that I can see they are doing good as far as the pain goes, and they are still being bratty. Those days I am going to blame changing hormones.

I think we are officially entering the phase I have been dreading... the preteen and teen rebellion years. Ugh!

I am not equipped to deal with this, and I know it. I'm calling God in on this one, seriously. I know He's up for the task. lol

These girls drive me nuts most of the time, I love them to pieces and wouldn't trade them for anything, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I could tape their mouths shut and not get in trouble for it. :P

Really though, they have both been hurting a lot lately though. They are taking their Naproxen, but it's not lasting like it should be. They are both complaining of back pain, and of course Mary's right wrist always hurts. Clara has also been having a lot of pain in her left ankle and knee.

Mary has an appointment with her Rheumatologist on Tuesday and Clara, being new, doesn't have an appointment with her until August 23, 2016, the day before her 12th birthday. I asked them why they schedule new patients 4 months out, and she tried to convince me it wasn't on purpose. It just so happens that they also scheduled Mary 4 months out for her first appointment too? *sigh* I don't believe them for a second.

I told her that while waiting for her first appointment, Mary's wrist became immobile. She didn't care.
I sure wish we were still in the days of, if you have an ailment or complaint, you go to the doctor's office and sit and wait until he sees you. We don't have that option here, or we'd be there from sun up to sundown.

I hate my babies being in pain. :(