Redeeming Moments
This week with L has been... shall we say trying? Blame it on the adjustment to new baby, or two-year molars coming in, or entering the "terrible twos" a little early, but she has been a real handful for Mommy in the past few days. We started time-outs with L about three months ago... and there have been lots of them this week. Sorry to get away from the "everything nice" category of blog posts, but them's the facts, folks. She has had a couple of redeeming moments, however, and I wanted to record them so that I can keep myself encouraged!!
Just to give you a little context for this story: L definitely loves her new sister, but is far more indifferent to C's presence than N is. N can't get enough of holding, snuggling, and talking to little C-- but L usually hangs back in the background and does her own thing. When she does interact with C, she often gets a reprimand for being too rough, so I think she has learned to keep her distance.
So yesterday L refused to separate from her blanky before lunch time. (She has become increasingly attached to blanky lately... I think she has increased snuggles with blanky as C has monopolized the snuggles with Mommy.) This ended in a blanky that was covered in clam chowder, a little girl who was overtired and more than ready for nap, a Mommy who had to take away blanky and put it in the washing machine, and a little girl who sobbed herself to sleep screaming, "I want my blanky!!" over and over and over. Fast forward to the next day when L, out of the blue, walked up to C as she was fussing and oh-so-gently tucked the ratty folds of precious blanky around little sister's face. She said, very softly, "Here you go, C," and walked away. For the next hour as she played, she would periodically come back, check the folds of blanky, give little sister a gentle pat, and resume playing. It was obvious she wanted to comfort C by loaning her blanky. For a girl that's so attached to that blanky, I think this was a gesture that is equal to or greater than all the snuggles in the world.
I've been trying to cure L of a nasty little habit she has of running away from us whenever we mention the words "diaper change" or "get dressed" or "pj time". This results in a game of chase that I'm sure is wildly entertaining for L, but is very frustrating for Mommy and Daddy (and anyone else that has to change her). I've started refusing to chase her, so the only way I've been able to accomplish getting her changed or dressed is to sit her in time out (and separate her from all toys and distractions) until she willingly comes to me and puts her clothes on (or acquiesces to having her diaper changed, whatever the case may be). It takes an average of 30 minutes for her to finally come around to getting her clothes on of her own volition. I'm hoping this amount of time will decrease if I remain consistent. It's pretty frustrating to have this battle every time we need to change clothes or diapers.
As the bedtime hour rolled around this evening, I was steeling myself for another battle. As I was finishing up a nursing session with C, L walked up to me, snuggled up to my side and whispered, "Hi. I'm here Mama." I replied, "Hi, L." She said, "Mama, you're my best friend. Can I have a BIG hug?" My heart melted, and I smiled and said, "Of course honey." I put C in her bouncy seat and lifted L. She put her arms around my neck and gave me the best snuggle! Then she said, "I have poops. Can we do diaper change?" Shocked, I said "Okay!" and brought her to the changing table. For the first time in a very, very long time, she laid down willingly, had her diaper changed, and put her pjs on without one bit of fuss. Just like that. Out of the blue.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I'm ending today with a smile on my face.
Just to give you a little context for this story: L definitely loves her new sister, but is far more indifferent to C's presence than N is. N can't get enough of holding, snuggling, and talking to little C-- but L usually hangs back in the background and does her own thing. When she does interact with C, she often gets a reprimand for being too rough, so I think she has learned to keep her distance.
So yesterday L refused to separate from her blanky before lunch time. (She has become increasingly attached to blanky lately... I think she has increased snuggles with blanky as C has monopolized the snuggles with Mommy.) This ended in a blanky that was covered in clam chowder, a little girl who was overtired and more than ready for nap, a Mommy who had to take away blanky and put it in the washing machine, and a little girl who sobbed herself to sleep screaming, "I want my blanky!!" over and over and over. Fast forward to the next day when L, out of the blue, walked up to C as she was fussing and oh-so-gently tucked the ratty folds of precious blanky around little sister's face. She said, very softly, "Here you go, C," and walked away. For the next hour as she played, she would periodically come back, check the folds of blanky, give little sister a gentle pat, and resume playing. It was obvious she wanted to comfort C by loaning her blanky. For a girl that's so attached to that blanky, I think this was a gesture that is equal to or greater than all the snuggles in the world.
I've been trying to cure L of a nasty little habit she has of running away from us whenever we mention the words "diaper change" or "get dressed" or "pj time". This results in a game of chase that I'm sure is wildly entertaining for L, but is very frustrating for Mommy and Daddy (and anyone else that has to change her). I've started refusing to chase her, so the only way I've been able to accomplish getting her changed or dressed is to sit her in time out (and separate her from all toys and distractions) until she willingly comes to me and puts her clothes on (or acquiesces to having her diaper changed, whatever the case may be). It takes an average of 30 minutes for her to finally come around to getting her clothes on of her own volition. I'm hoping this amount of time will decrease if I remain consistent. It's pretty frustrating to have this battle every time we need to change clothes or diapers.
As the bedtime hour rolled around this evening, I was steeling myself for another battle. As I was finishing up a nursing session with C, L walked up to me, snuggled up to my side and whispered, "Hi. I'm here Mama." I replied, "Hi, L." She said, "Mama, you're my best friend. Can I have a BIG hug?" My heart melted, and I smiled and said, "Of course honey." I put C in her bouncy seat and lifted L. She put her arms around my neck and gave me the best snuggle! Then she said, "I have poops. Can we do diaper change?" Shocked, I said "Okay!" and brought her to the changing table. For the first time in a very, very long time, she laid down willingly, had her diaper changed, and put her pjs on without one bit of fuss. Just like that. Out of the blue.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but I'm ending today with a smile on my face.
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