It's been quite a trial this last day and a half. I'm not sure if it's because we were rained in today or if it's just another phase, but my son has been a B.......R......A.......T.....pretty much all day and some of yesterday. Consequently, his big sister is quite cranked about it.
Yesterday he swung from his curtains........again.......bending his rod........again. This happened three months ago and we felt like we had effectively dealt with it because he's been good since. One suggestion I had was to remove the curtains from his room but didn't believe it was an option because it wasn't really teaching him anything. I still believe that, but I'm telling you that suggestion is looking better all the time. The problem is that he would still have to have blinds, and nothing would stop him from pulling on them and wrecking them either. The key is finding the right consequence for this action, and we're still working on that.
Today he removed the money from his piggy bank (a first), and told me he hid the money all around his room. He emptied his toy box out and when his dad went in to say hi to him at lunch, he couldn't find him. Dave came to me asking where Seth was, so we went together to his room to find him hiding in his toy box. This itself isn't really terrible, it's just that it was a day of "firsts". And it left me wondering what else he was going to try for the "first" time.
He had so much pent up energy that I spent about two hours wrestling with him, and I quit only when I felt like he was going to end up putting me in a body cast. Even now my mid back is throbbing. In the five days we were in our hotel room in Red Deer last week, he was nothing like he has been the last day and a half.
His sister has been extremely frustrated with him and I've been trying to teach her to ignore him, and to come to me when she felt the need to retaliate. I don't want her to be a tattle tale, but neither do I want her whaling on him in anger. For the most part this worked today. Except once. Seth was doing a half head stand in the living room with one leg sticking out when Hannah passed him. It must have been too tempting, because she ended up boxing him on the leg as she passed by, even though he had not provoked it this time. I asked her why she did it, and she replied, "I don't know." She is not usually meanspirited. She's just been frustrated.
We went to the library this afternoon. We left without getting to the children's department. He must have thought he was in a casino or something, because he was spinning the rotating rack of books so hard that he surely thought he was going to win the jackpot (another first). From there we went to the post office to mail a package. While there, Seth was doing his stand-up comedy routine for the clerk, who thought he was quite funny.
"You wouldn't think he was so funny if he lived with you," was Hannah's response.
Hmmmm. Think she's just a tad frustrated? It was hilarious, I must confess, and the clerk and I both ended up laughing.
Hmmmm. Think she's just a tad frustrated? It was hilarious, I must confess, and the clerk and I both ended up laughing.
He ended up in bed @ 7:30 tonight. I'm tired. Hannah's tired. He's tired. He's also without any treats or computer for two full weeks because of the curtain rod incident. I'm not sure yet if that will be effective but only time will tell. I really, really hope tomorrow is different, because it's supposed to rain for the next couple of days so we will be indoors more than usual.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do with a boy who walks around with a glint in his eye, a smirk on his face, looking to see what trouble he can stir up, without breaking his spirit? This is a serious question. I don't really want his personality to change, I love him just the way he is. I just want it controlled, if possible. Seriously, folks. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Before he thinks up a bunch more "firsts" - and drives me totally crazy.
5 comments:
Oh my goodness. I am going to give stories to you to write for me. My stories suck cuz I suck at telling them! I laughed quite hard when I read this. I almost died laughing when I heard about the curtains..AGAIN. Hannah is learning the fine art of patience I see. LOL.
I laughed when I saw the picture! Oh my word, that was perfect. Then for you to liken the book rack to winning a lottery...yah. Too, funny. Let's hope he doesn't discover the basement to hide in...you could be searching for a long time. lol
As far as discipline goes...the juries still out on that one. I'll have to let you know.
Loved this post!
Hi Darla, sometimes children can drive you crazy. My son Shane was like have 3 boys when he was little. He was termed as ADHD and never stopped til he was sleeping. With him, I found I had to keep him away from certain foods as they would cause him to do crazy things and also it helped for us to have times away from each other. How old is your son?
I was thinking that maybe you could take him to the store and have him pay for a new curtain rod or maybe the blinds with his money he's saved. Then plan to do something with both kids where they can spend their money on the same thing, but he won't be able to afford it cause he had to pay for the damages; therefore, he will realize that these things cost money and it is money he could have spent on something he was wanting. Or you could tell him you are using the money you were going to use on something special for him on the curtains and make him realize that he's lost a profit to himself(I believe you would call this logical consequences). Maybe he will think twice about damaging something again. Anyways, pray about my suggestion cause God knows your son and this situation!!!
Cheryl: Excellent idea! Seth is 5 and it is getting a bit easier to reason with him. I will put your idea to my husband, and pray about it. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.
LOL! I laughed out loud at Hannah's comment "You wouldn't think he's so funny if you lived with him!"
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