Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Reagan's Christmas Program
Friday, December 13, 2013
Exasperated
Exasperate: to irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely, as defined by dictionary.com That's the best word and definitely the most accurate word to describe how I've felt this week. Completely exasperated and now that it's Friday, I feel I'm at the end of my rope. Praise the Lord Ryan will be home for the weekend and will be able to help me.
I'm fairly certain I can trace the exasperation back to last Saturday, December 7. I was barely even with the kids that day, but they were just acting horribly. Ryan and I were able to enjoy the day in the city sans kids and I thought things would get better on Sunday. Well that didn't happen. The best way I can describe myself on Sunday was having an out of body experience. Any sign of patience was out the window. Reagan went on his third straight day of not napping or having "quiet time" and I just couldn't handle it. I was tired from a very long day in the city yesterday so I thought life would get back to "normal" on Monday.
Oh how wrong I was! Without doing a play by play, I can sum up the week as Reagan still not napping, having meltdowns every day at various points during the day due to exhaustion (he tells me I'm so tired...) and accidents in the afternoon. He had gone at least a solid week without any accidents and this week brought several and sometimes multiple in a day. Kyleigh as well has been pushing the limits and chooses to be naughty in the midst of my struggle and frustration with Reagan. When I tell her no for anything, she'll start spitting. Where did that come from??
I think my low point of the week came yesterday when I had a friend watching the kids for about an hour and fifteen minutes while I had a doctor appointment. I had Reagan attempt the potty before we left the house, but didn't have to go. When I came to get the kids, he had three accidents - one poop and two pee accidents - at their house. And then to top it off, he accidentally broke one of their snowmen decorations. I know she wasn't upset at all - about the accidents or snowman - but I felt terrible. I pushed ahead and went to Mariano's since we had no food for dinner. Reagan thought it was a good decision to stick his fingers into an banana and then try to eat the banana through the peel. As I stood in the bread and jelly aisle, crying, all I could think is, "What happened to my child? This isn't the kid I know." I pulled myself together, paid for the groceries, and came home.
I spent the majority of Thursday evening alone because Ryan had a Peacemakers meeting at church from 6-8:30. I managed to get the kids fed, bathed (I normally only bathe the kids when Ryan's home), and in bed without much of an issue. By 7:15p I was making 13 dozen cookies and wrapping presents. This was actually a good time to be alone in my thoughts.
After a lengthy description of my feelings this week, I now have a few thoughts. Trust me, I don't know the answers and still feel exasperated, but I'm doing my best to work through this feeling of exasperation. First, as Ryan suggested, I should probably change my expectations in regards to Reagan's nap (or lack thereof). Maybe he's giving it up and I need to accept this. I think he's too young to give it up, but then again, Ryan gave up napping at an early age as well. Maybe it's genetic? Second, maybe Reagan is sensing things will be changing at home soon (baby is due in 6 weeks). He did so great at potty training and then he gave up his nap and we've been talking about big boy beds (bunk beds) for his room. Maybe he doesn't understand how to process all that is happening in his world right now so his way to keep my attention focused on him is through potty training regression, nap refusal, and misbehavior. I could be way off here, but it's just a thought. Third, and definitely most important, if I start my day with prayer, it truly changes my attitude toward the kids. On Wednesday morning I asked the Lord for extra patience and love during this difficult time. While Reagan continued his antics, I approached my discipline in a much calmer and loving way than the days I didn't start off with prayer. I know this and yet I still try to handle things on my own. So silly!
It's only 8:30a on Friday morning and we still have the day ahead of us. I did start my day with prayer, so I know I'm already on the right track. It's going to be a long day, though, as Reagan is in his first musical tonight at church. He only has one verse to sing for "Away in a Manger" but the program doesn't start until 7p which has been his bedtime during the napping strike. We'll see how he does with the extra late night.
I pray things will change soon and maybe as I mentioned earlier, I need to accept a new normal of life. Kids are ever changing and we had been in a groove for a long time. Maybe I should try to see the positive of this napping strike as giving me some one on one time with Reagan I didn't really have before. I know the Lord is walking with me through his difficult time; I just need to rely on His strength when I'm at my weakest.
I'm fairly certain I can trace the exasperation back to last Saturday, December 7. I was barely even with the kids that day, but they were just acting horribly. Ryan and I were able to enjoy the day in the city sans kids and I thought things would get better on Sunday. Well that didn't happen. The best way I can describe myself on Sunday was having an out of body experience. Any sign of patience was out the window. Reagan went on his third straight day of not napping or having "quiet time" and I just couldn't handle it. I was tired from a very long day in the city yesterday so I thought life would get back to "normal" on Monday.
Oh how wrong I was! Without doing a play by play, I can sum up the week as Reagan still not napping, having meltdowns every day at various points during the day due to exhaustion (he tells me I'm so tired...) and accidents in the afternoon. He had gone at least a solid week without any accidents and this week brought several and sometimes multiple in a day. Kyleigh as well has been pushing the limits and chooses to be naughty in the midst of my struggle and frustration with Reagan. When I tell her no for anything, she'll start spitting. Where did that come from??
I think my low point of the week came yesterday when I had a friend watching the kids for about an hour and fifteen minutes while I had a doctor appointment. I had Reagan attempt the potty before we left the house, but didn't have to go. When I came to get the kids, he had three accidents - one poop and two pee accidents - at their house. And then to top it off, he accidentally broke one of their snowmen decorations. I know she wasn't upset at all - about the accidents or snowman - but I felt terrible. I pushed ahead and went to Mariano's since we had no food for dinner. Reagan thought it was a good decision to stick his fingers into an banana and then try to eat the banana through the peel. As I stood in the bread and jelly aisle, crying, all I could think is, "What happened to my child? This isn't the kid I know." I pulled myself together, paid for the groceries, and came home.
I spent the majority of Thursday evening alone because Ryan had a Peacemakers meeting at church from 6-8:30. I managed to get the kids fed, bathed (I normally only bathe the kids when Ryan's home), and in bed without much of an issue. By 7:15p I was making 13 dozen cookies and wrapping presents. This was actually a good time to be alone in my thoughts.
After a lengthy description of my feelings this week, I now have a few thoughts. Trust me, I don't know the answers and still feel exasperated, but I'm doing my best to work through this feeling of exasperation. First, as Ryan suggested, I should probably change my expectations in regards to Reagan's nap (or lack thereof). Maybe he's giving it up and I need to accept this. I think he's too young to give it up, but then again, Ryan gave up napping at an early age as well. Maybe it's genetic? Second, maybe Reagan is sensing things will be changing at home soon (baby is due in 6 weeks). He did so great at potty training and then he gave up his nap and we've been talking about big boy beds (bunk beds) for his room. Maybe he doesn't understand how to process all that is happening in his world right now so his way to keep my attention focused on him is through potty training regression, nap refusal, and misbehavior. I could be way off here, but it's just a thought. Third, and definitely most important, if I start my day with prayer, it truly changes my attitude toward the kids. On Wednesday morning I asked the Lord for extra patience and love during this difficult time. While Reagan continued his antics, I approached my discipline in a much calmer and loving way than the days I didn't start off with prayer. I know this and yet I still try to handle things on my own. So silly!
It's only 8:30a on Friday morning and we still have the day ahead of us. I did start my day with prayer, so I know I'm already on the right track. It's going to be a long day, though, as Reagan is in his first musical tonight at church. He only has one verse to sing for "Away in a Manger" but the program doesn't start until 7p which has been his bedtime during the napping strike. We'll see how he does with the extra late night.
I pray things will change soon and maybe as I mentioned earlier, I need to accept a new normal of life. Kids are ever changing and we had been in a groove for a long time. Maybe I should try to see the positive of this napping strike as giving me some one on one time with Reagan I didn't really have before. I know the Lord is walking with me through his difficult time; I just need to rely on His strength when I'm at my weakest.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Potty Training Update
I am so happy Reagan is doing well with potty training. He's done so much better than I could have ever expected. He has had a few pee accidents, but beyond maybe one every three days or so, he's done an awesome job. There are some occasions where I need to ask him if he needs to go potty, but other than that, he's learned the urge to go and lets me know he has to go!
His first accident after many days without one was a big deal. I think he was so surprised it happened (and me as well) that since that day, he will often tell me every 15 minutes he needs to go. Obviously this is a false alarm, but it has been very frustrating. I never know when he actually needs to go or when he's just saying he needs to go. Something we'll work through, I'm sure.
The one main (and significant) issue has been pooping. He went on the potty that first week, but it's gone downhill (and quickly) ever since. He will often poop in his underwear and sometimes won't tell me. He doesn't seem to mind pooping in his underwear! When I can tell he needs to poop, I will put him on his little potty or even the normal toilet with a cushioned insert and he refuses to go. I'm not sure if he's scared or why he won't poop when I've put him on the potty. Again, it's something we'll work through, but difficult at this time.
Overall, Reagan has caught on so quickly and I'm thrilled!
His first accident after many days without one was a big deal. I think he was so surprised it happened (and me as well) that since that day, he will often tell me every 15 minutes he needs to go. Obviously this is a false alarm, but it has been very frustrating. I never know when he actually needs to go or when he's just saying he needs to go. Something we'll work through, I'm sure.
The one main (and significant) issue has been pooping. He went on the potty that first week, but it's gone downhill (and quickly) ever since. He will often poop in his underwear and sometimes won't tell me. He doesn't seem to mind pooping in his underwear! When I can tell he needs to poop, I will put him on his little potty or even the normal toilet with a cushioned insert and he refuses to go. I'm not sure if he's scared or why he won't poop when I've put him on the potty. Again, it's something we'll work through, but difficult at this time.
Overall, Reagan has caught on so quickly and I'm thrilled!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Reagan and Kyleigh - November 2013
My notes from November 2013:
Reagan:
Reagan:
- Has delay tactics now at bedtime
- Very inquisitive - any unfamiliar noise comes with the immediate question "What was that?"
- Calls his cowboy boots "Calliou" boots
- Getting better at sharing and thinking of Kyleigh
- Getting better with numbers
- Starting to say "please" and "thank you" without any prompting (mostly thank you, but occasionally please)
- Loves his sister! He'll walk into her room in the morning and say "Morning, big girl" just like me
- Likes to get into the van and say "All agourd" translation - All Aboard
- Some days, he's really sweet with Kyleigh. He'll bring her toys or if she's crying, he'll say "You're ok, sister." Melts my heart
- Becoming quite the bargainer to get what he wants. "Mom, if I finish ____ then I have a treat?"
- Starting to procrastinate at dinner - just plays with his food and drinks his milk
- Favorite phrase: "No, I do it. I'm a big boy."
- Well on his way to being officially potty-trained!! Still using diapers/pulls up while sleeping, but in underwear the rest of the day.
- Likes to call Kyleigh and me "sweetie pie"
- Really enjoys praying each night before bed (The Lord's Prayer)
- Likes to pray after Ryan prays at dinner. He often gets very specific with the food he's thanking the Lord for.
Kyleigh:
- Likes to pick up the cat bowls and give them to me to put on the counter (at least she rarely eats it anymore!)
- First half of the month, she refused to let me brush her teeth; she wanted to do it
- Started showing signs of being a righty instead of a lefty
- Insists on feeding herself most days and she's pretty good at it
- Loves to play with Reagan's cars
- Wants to do everything Reagan does - she watches him very intently
- Says "elmo" multiple times a day, but she doesn't know who Elmo is!
- Discovered light switches and constantly wants to turn them off
- Enjoys helping me unload the dishwasher
- When she gets mad, she'll hit her belly and scream
- Likes to grab my hand and then stick her milk into it for me to hold for her
- Perfected "no"
- Resourceful! Becoming a good problem solver
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)