Boast

Boasting

I went grocery shopping with a list for the first time in a very long time.  Yes, I feel proud.  I even have three meals planned out.  I've been cooking during my very long hiatus from organized shopping and meal planning. I just haven't been shopping for more than one or two meals at a time, and those meals are consistently ones that require no recipe (salmon, rice, & veg; steak, potatoes, & veg; chicken, rice, & veg; you get the picture).  

Reverse boasting

Yesterday, I did a trail walk with Turtle, then painted the nook for 2+ hours.  Those two activities plum wore me out.  It was pathetic.  I am so out of shape.  I was huffing and puffing up the hill during the walk.  After I was done painting, I was literally shaking from using my muscles to hold positions they're not used to holding for any length of time.  After I carried the rug upstairs to put in the nook, I was exhausted.  In fact, I went to bed at 9:30 last night because I was so tired.

Attention seeking

So, dear readers, I need advice.  Avery's need for constant attention (praise?) about whatever it is she's doing has reached a level where I feel it's now something we have to curb or it's going to be a social problem for her.  I'm not sure she's seeking praise as much as it is attention.  She doesn't seem to care whether I respond with a "yes" or a "well done!" or an "uh huh."  It's that she wants me to watch/see/admire every.little.thing she does.

A few points I'd like to make before I provide an example of this behavior:

• This need isn't specific to when I'm not paying direct attention to her.  I wouldn't be (as) concerned if she did it only when I was on the computer or looking at my phone - both of those activities are difficult to handle since attention is so very diverted.  She does it all.the.time.  
• I'm personally not overly annoyed by it.  I'm more concerned with the trend.  I also know that I would find any other child who did the same thing very annoying.  Ergo, I have to assume a vast majority of teachers will find it annoying, as will peers as she gets older.
• I could be wrong, but I don't think it's a function of a lack of sufficient attention by either D or me.  While our attention does not revolve around Avery when we're all home together, both of us actively focus on spending time where our attention is devoted to Avery (vs. the phone or the computer or a book or TV).

OK, an example of the behavior:  I was coloring with Avery the other night.  She had her drawing she was coloring; I had mine.  About every fifteen seconds or so, she'd exclaim, "Look it!" and want to show a line she'd drawn or that she used a color or whatever.  At that point, I used an example from a WordGirl episode she's been watching lately.  In the episode, there's a girl who is always boasting about how she's the best at everything she does.  Someone explains to the girl that no one likes a boaster.  I tried to parallel that logic to the attention seeking Avery's exhibiting.  I explained that, like boasting, our society doesn't like attention seekers.  I further explained that she should try waiting until she was completely done with her drawing, then ask us to look at the final product.  She said, "OK!" but did no such thing.

I have a few questions for you readers:

1. Do you think this is a problem that is personality driven vs. age driven?  If it's age driven, I can see letting it go and getting through this phase.  If it's personality driven, I do feel like it's behavior we need to curb, or at least guide in a more acceptable direction.
2. Does anyone think this is a behavior that we shouldn't try to curb?  While I can't say I'd be convinced that it's acceptable long-term behavior, I'm definitely open to hearing other opinions.  Looking at it from another perspective, I can see how someone might say trying to curb this behavior is not accepting Avery for who she is.   
3. Does anyone have any other thoughts on this?