Comments on: back in town

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:27:42 +0000

love the “going Ghandi” term. Will remember it for when I am a grand - which I hope is not for a few years, yet. Although with sons ages 24 and 20…that time is closer than it ever was.

By: esperanza

esperanza — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:43:56 +0000

turbo parenting, huh? I like that. We have grandparental reinforcements this week–very nice–wish they lived closer.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:37:12 +0000

Oh yeah, the passive resistance thing. My 45-pounder has discovered this, too. One of the benefits of being big and having old, tired parents. He even does it when he’s not upset and we want to get going somewhere, just because it’s so totally fun.

I like the terms people come up with. I know the supernova. And one of my boys, when he was an infant, flickered through all the facial expressions of the various emotions just before he fell completely asleep. I called it his shutdown routine.

I think I’ll add “Going Gandhi” to the vocabulary list.

By: reverendmother

reverendmother — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:32:11 +0000

Yes, yesterday morning she didn’t get her way and intended to lay her head on the floor and did it a little too hard, and on the tile part rather than the carpet. You could see her little thoughts, “Aw, shit. Miscalculated it.”

We’ve also experience the limp passive resistance thing a la civil rights and Gandhi.

Today/tonight was much better.

Esp, you’re doing great. You are doing turbo parenting, believe me. So be gentle with yourself.

By: sherry

sherry — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:02:31 +0000

Does she throw herself down on the floor during the meltdown?

We used to call that “praying to Allah”….both kids did it.

We also used the term “supernova” to explain that extreme burst of energy/moodiness/frenzy that occurs right before dropping completely into a deep, deep sleep when a child is exhausted.

“what’s going on with Son? Why is he so horrible?”
“Don’t worry, he’s just being a supernova”

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:56:45 +0000

Wow. You really are amazing and quite brave to take on such an adventure so soon after SBJ’s birth!

You’re doing just fine. I love the term “thermonuclear meltdown”, though I’m sure they aren’t as cute in person.

By: esperanza

esperanza — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:35:35 +0000

in awe. Just in awe. Only place we go is the doctor’s office. And I lose my cool at least once a day. Usually with myself, granted, but still. Your kids are very blessed.

By: mibi52

mibi52 — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:21:41 +0000

As an only child, I didn’t know what tantrums were, nor would I have been allowed by my somewhat Teutonic mother to have one.

I’m trying to think back when my kids were little…I can’t recall any real tantrums per se, but they all did the teenage sulk that QG so accurately describes. And I regularly lost my cool over them then. Sometimes in major ways.

Maybe I was jealous that I hadn’t had the opportunity to do the same when I was a kid…

You are doing brilliantly. Don’t sweat it.

By: reverendmother

reverendmother — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:46:54 +0000

I would be happy for my children to resemble Uncle NotShy in any number of ways!

(Though as R pointed out to me the other night, SBJ has a clockwise hair whirl.)

By: NotShyChiRev

NotShyChiRev — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:38:14 +0000

Well, I can tell you this. I was probably the number one tantrum thrower in the family…but as #3 of 4, by the time I came around, Mom was one cool cucumber and never let me get the upper hand. And look how well-balanced I turned out?!?!?

And ditto what QG said! Brava to you!