No you're not! I have a 6 year gap between my boys and youngest daughter. I am also a single parent. However, only my daughter is still living at home. My oldest has started his own family and my middle son is living with his father now. 23, 17 and 14. It's so tough handling all the conflict alone isn't it?

They are competing for attention, and the 15 YO has decided that acting childish as her 7 YO sister gives her a level playing field in getting attention.

Don't engage her when she acts like a little kid, or you're rewarding the behavior. Reward it and she will keep doing it forever.

Try telling the older daughter that she WILL be the focus of attention at set times every day.

I try to give them equal attention but of course the little one requires a bit more than the older one. When the 15 yo was very young we started to a mommy/daughter day and it's stuck all these years later. I know she looks forward to those so I try to do that with each child (without the other child) at least once a month. That seems to help but is difficult to do financially. The youngest is just fine with something like the park but the oldest one wants to do things that cost money like seeing a movie, roller skating, trampoline place, etc. I just wish I could give them more...then again if they had more then they may have more rotten behaviors. Sorry, just kind of thinking out loud. Thanks for listening (reading) to me babbling.

luny7998, I can totally relate. I raised three kids and always wished that I could give them more. But, I think that they don't really need more things....just more of your time. Try flying a kite with your teen or walking a trail to discover things. I know how the money situation is....I'm there too. Things cost $50 to $100 to do anything these days!! And I just don't have that kind of money!