TW-3 for Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007......

[poltr1]

Fri 12/29: M's daycare was closed, so I was on Daddy Duty again. Before she left for work, R noticed a rash all over M, and asked me to bring her into the doctor for an appointment. First, though, was breakfast at First Watch, and an eye doctor appointment which I had already scheduled. During the appointment, M fidgeted the entire time I was there. (Why can't she behave and sit still like all the other 4-year olds I see?) We then went to M's prediatrician, who was able to squeeze her in. The doc believed it was a reaction to another medication (generic Zithromax). After filling the prescription, we went to the local second-run hose to see "Flushed Away". I enjoyed the film, and I think M did too. After R got out of work to pick M up, I headed over to the Dublin Pub to see Mother Grove in concert. (I also invited athenawindsong and her hubby J to tag along.) stormraven37 was there too, as expected, along with several people I know IRL but are all NOLJ: Cindy, Dan, Gwen, Tam, Drew, Rose, Lynn, and Ron.

Sat 12/30: Spent the morning sleeping in. I spent the afternoon with fuzzyvanman, rms_butterfly, catsleftpaw, and special guests maedbh7, The Boy, and The Boy's Cousin. We had lunch at Donato's (where we saw Ian), dessert at Young's Dairy, and had a round of miniature golf. Outside. In December. After getting back home and catching up on email and LJ, I went out again to meet up with J at the Rusty Bucket, where we watched the Giants beat the Redskins, had some good food, and drank some good beer.

Sun 12/31: Slept in again (ahhhh!). This was a lazy day. I went to my favorite local tavern hangout -- Beef O'Brady's -- to watch the Bills game. But the game got pushed back to 4 PM, so I watched the Bengals lose to the Steelers in overtime. Had some other good beers too, including the Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Afterward, I called up R and we had take-out Chinese food. I would have stayed longer, but she had friends coming over. So I spent NYE at home alone, with a ring of peel-and-eat shrimp, a bottle of diluted gin (couldn't afford the good stuff), tonic water, and some limes.

Mon 1/1: Slept in again (I could get used to this). Had lunch at Skyline, and cleaned the living/dining areas while the Gator Bowl was on.

Comments

[amazon-42.livejournal.com]

Jim, the only 4 year olds who sit still and behave are heavily medicated, abused, or retarded, or all 3.

4 year olds fidget. Bright, inquisitive, friendly 4year olds fidget a LOT.

My mother had the same delusion about "other children". Mostly from Competitive Childrearing Bragging Crap from other parents. It was all lies. ("My child was toilet trained at eight months!")

Thus, psychiatry from the age of three for me and Nate. And heavy psychotropics. See how much good that did us? Whee.

Oh and BTW, the psychiatrist who drugged us at such a young age is on trial currently for voluntary manslaughter by medical malpractice: it was inevitable. He killed a couple of kids by over-medicating them.

So, not so much with the worrying about Miss M's behavior. She's just...four. You can relax now.

***Snort*** Now, when ALEX behaves like that, I do get a bit upset, being that he's.....older (Ain't tellin'). And yes, I do say "Alex, you are acting like MARIA! And she has an excuse because she's FOUR, what's YOURS???"

So, there ya go. Trade ya. Or...wait. No, that wouldn't work.

[poltr1]

And what did my dad to to get me to stop fidgeting? He kept telling me to be still. He eventually hit me when I couldn't sit still enough for him.

That's why I think of hitting first instead of redirecting.

[athenawindsong.livejournal.com]

It might be a good idea to keep an "arsenal" of toys in the car for such things. Something that will keep her occupied with lots of gross and fine motor skills being employed. She could even have her own toy bag that she is responsible for filling with toys she wants for that particular trip, carrying it around, picking up after herself. It will take a bit of training to get her focused on keeping the bag safe, but it will give her a sense of ownership over her own behavior and have a comforting sense of the familiar. Picture books are excellent. You can get her to "read" to you as you wait.

If she is still too figity, even with the toys, try to locate "big toys" in the waiting room such as blocks or mousetrap type contraptions - you can even call ahead to find out if the waiting room is kid-friendly.

Another idea is to let her "get the wiggles out" by taking her first to a playroom somewhere. Let her know that you expect her to sit "like a big girl" once you are at your destination, but she can play now for 10-15 minutes all she wants at the playroom.

Redirecting takes anticipation and planning. If you know your daughter is one of the more figity types, shift your thinking to preventative measures rather than reactive moves - and keep it up, don't quit after one or two unsuccessful attempts. Expected patterns of behavior take a while to manifest, but they DO occur once the child is also able to anticipate and plan.

The important thing to remember is that kids thrive on choices. You can set the choice selection for them, but be prepared to follow through with whatever consequences you have promised as well as the rewards. For example, with the playroom idea, you can promise the playroom AFTER the doctor's office, but if she doesn't sit "like a big girl," the play time will be reduced from 20 minutes to 10. If she chooses to figit more than you are comfortable with, warn her that she is taking away her own playtime - and THEN redirect with a toy or game or pictures in a magazine.

:::teacher mode deactivated::::

[amazon-42.livejournal.com]

***Wince***

That sucks. I'm sorry.

[dragon-pet.livejournal.com]

Sounds about exciting as my weekend.