![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
An Update
Since my last post, I've been busy busy busy with family visits.
My mother-in-law has now visited us twice since Elisheva was born, and she will return to us after she visits friends in Montreal and her family in NY (10 day trip). Basically, Boston has functioned as her home base during this visit. Oh, I guess I should mention that she lives in Israel, so when she visits this side of the "pond," she comes for about a month or so and spends a week here and there. I'll post more about her visit when all is said and done.
My parents also visited for a long weekend while my MIL visited my BIL for a week. That visit was appreciated, though a bit unusual. I don't really want to post about it. The truly curious can private message me and ask. :)
Caleb is adjusting still and has adopted some new whining and complaining techniques. Many of his "new" phrases fall under this category:
"I don't want to...." (imagine a very whiny not entirely coherent voice)
"I want something else..."
"no..." (this is different from NO!! and NOOOOOOO!")
"I want my [fill in whichever parent is not with him]"
He also has some charming expressions:
"I need a hug"
"I need kisses and hugs..." (with just a touch of whine)
"I need to go to the hospital" (while showing me whatever week-old bruise/scratch that clearly does not require medical attention)
Besides new phrases, he is seeing what "selective deafness" can do for him. I don't mean to be offensive to anyone who is hard of hearing or suffers from a legitimate hearing loss. Rather, my son already has started trying to ignore people when they talk to him. Usually, he ignores requests that might interrupt what he is doing. Sometimes he ignores questions which are meant to be for his benefit ("would you like applesauce or pears?").
His adjustment behaviors, as I like to think of them, are infuriating at times. I'm not entirely sure why I find them so irritating, but I do. In order to preserve my sanity, or at least what's left of it, I've been spending time reevaluating what battles are really worth fighting or standing my ground on. For this week, I've identified 3 things that I will be firm and consistent about: hitting, kicking, and spitting. I'd like to think that I'm raising a young boy and not a camel or a llama. ;) Yesterday I had to add one thing to that list - rock throwing. Otherwise, it's been a much more pleasant parenting experience to limit my "big fights" to 3 behaviors. Sure, I still stick to our regular routines even if he tries to avoid them (diaper changes, naps), but I don't fight about those things the way I will about the "Big 3." I'd like to think that Caleb eventually will be happier because of my limiting the big fights to what I think is really important and my providing consistent responses. I'm not thrilled with the kinds of responses I've been giving him - mostly removal from a situation - but I don't think removing him from something when he is hitting/kicking/spitting is SO bad. If anyone reading this has a more logical consequence to these types of behaviors, I'm all ears.
Other than Caleb's adjustments, which are getting better I think, everything else is pretty good even if it's a bit hectic with the family visits. Ellie is growing (9lb 9.5 oz at 1 month, up from 7lb 15 oz at birth!) and seems to be a fairly predictable baby. She eats every few hours now, sleeps reasonably well (2-3 hours at a time), and seems relatively unfazed by noises and our regular comings and goings. Aaron finished teaching the first summer session this week, and he will be starting his second summer session this week. He told me that he had the strangest grade distribution he has ever had for this particular class. Many As and some Fs, not a lot in between. I joked that he had the breast curve distribution instead of the bell curve. :)
Well, family beckons and my nursling is stirring. Back to "work..."
My mother-in-law has now visited us twice since Elisheva was born, and she will return to us after she visits friends in Montreal and her family in NY (10 day trip). Basically, Boston has functioned as her home base during this visit. Oh, I guess I should mention that she lives in Israel, so when she visits this side of the "pond," she comes for about a month or so and spends a week here and there. I'll post more about her visit when all is said and done.
My parents also visited for a long weekend while my MIL visited my BIL for a week. That visit was appreciated, though a bit unusual. I don't really want to post about it. The truly curious can private message me and ask. :)
Caleb is adjusting still and has adopted some new whining and complaining techniques. Many of his "new" phrases fall under this category:
"I don't want to...." (imagine a very whiny not entirely coherent voice)
"I want something else..."
"no..." (this is different from NO!! and NOOOOOOO!")
"I want my [fill in whichever parent is not with him]"
He also has some charming expressions:
"I need a hug"
"I need kisses and hugs..." (with just a touch of whine)
"I need to go to the hospital" (while showing me whatever week-old bruise/scratch that clearly does not require medical attention)
Besides new phrases, he is seeing what "selective deafness" can do for him. I don't mean to be offensive to anyone who is hard of hearing or suffers from a legitimate hearing loss. Rather, my son already has started trying to ignore people when they talk to him. Usually, he ignores requests that might interrupt what he is doing. Sometimes he ignores questions which are meant to be for his benefit ("would you like applesauce or pears?").
His adjustment behaviors, as I like to think of them, are infuriating at times. I'm not entirely sure why I find them so irritating, but I do. In order to preserve my sanity, or at least what's left of it, I've been spending time reevaluating what battles are really worth fighting or standing my ground on. For this week, I've identified 3 things that I will be firm and consistent about: hitting, kicking, and spitting. I'd like to think that I'm raising a young boy and not a camel or a llama. ;) Yesterday I had to add one thing to that list - rock throwing. Otherwise, it's been a much more pleasant parenting experience to limit my "big fights" to 3 behaviors. Sure, I still stick to our regular routines even if he tries to avoid them (diaper changes, naps), but I don't fight about those things the way I will about the "Big 3." I'd like to think that Caleb eventually will be happier because of my limiting the big fights to what I think is really important and my providing consistent responses. I'm not thrilled with the kinds of responses I've been giving him - mostly removal from a situation - but I don't think removing him from something when he is hitting/kicking/spitting is SO bad. If anyone reading this has a more logical consequence to these types of behaviors, I'm all ears.
Other than Caleb's adjustments, which are getting better I think, everything else is pretty good even if it's a bit hectic with the family visits. Ellie is growing (9lb 9.5 oz at 1 month, up from 7lb 15 oz at birth!) and seems to be a fairly predictable baby. She eats every few hours now, sleeps reasonably well (2-3 hours at a time), and seems relatively unfazed by noises and our regular comings and goings. Aaron finished teaching the first summer session this week, and he will be starting his second summer session this week. He told me that he had the strangest grade distribution he has ever had for this particular class. Many As and some Fs, not a lot in between. I joked that he had the breast curve distribution instead of the bell curve. :)
Well, family beckons and my nursling is stirring. Back to "work..."
Comments