OK, so dumb hopeful thought for the day:

She's only such a brat* because she's learning to trust us.

Logic: When she first showed up, she was terrified. She always cooperated, always ate all her food, always smiled, always listened.

Then she figured out that she was apparently going to be here a while. She began to trust that we would meet her basic needs. She was cautious, she didn't know what we were really like. She became a little less 'perfect'. She started dawdling, she started with the backtalk, she tested our reaction to mild violence.

We started talking forever. She started testing that theory. Violent became more common. Obscenities. ugh. We bought her a car vest, advocated for treatments, got her out of the not fitting therapist, got her through school. She started to trust that we could handle disrespect.

Then we adopted her. The "man in the dress" showed her all his cool Rockies stuff, told her that now she got TWO birthdays, and declared us her forever family. So she started to trust that we were determined enough to not die when her real feelings come out. Now, she flat out tells us that she doesn't trust us...

Now our role is to avoid flying objects, protect the animals, hope to live through it, and make sure the siren is on before we go to sleep.

*brat being the kinder of the words I could use to describe this evenings threat to kill us - after trying to strangle the dog.

At least I can justify the illogic. 'Cause the reality, I think, is, the kid's just mean.