Right now the kids are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Braden is completely unrecognizable to the child he was last year. He is so independent and well behaved. He listens to my instructions and happily does what he is asked. He even thinks ahead of what he should do and goes ahead and does it, like getting his shoes on and getting into the car. Tonight he went upstairs by himself, went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, put on his pajamas and got into bed. I was shocked. Ok, some parents may think that this is normal for their house but for me this is huge, last year I was dressing him myself, prying his mouth open to brush his teeth and nagging him twenty times to go the bathroom and getting into bed. And lately we've been on time to things all because I'm getting cooperation out of one child, just think of what I'll be able to accomplish when both kids cooperate!!
Braden is also so proud and confident with school and hockey. He comes home from school and likes to share what he learns. Last year he couldn't even tell me what he did in school each day! He also loves his hockey and has improved so much. Today he told me to make sure I sign him up for hockey again and again because he loves it so much.
Best of all, he really controls his anger. He used to lash out and hit or kick people and objects whenever he didn't get his way. Now I notice that he holds back and will come to me to help him solve the problem or he'll say out loud how frustrated he is. And he likes to help us all, especially Addison, when she is whining about her car losing a wheel he runs over to help her. Last year, he would've been the one taking the wheel off and taunting her with it!! Of course he still has those moments, they wouldn't be siblings if they didn't fight. And he isn't perfect all of the time but to see that they actually do grow up and start doing things on their own and finally all my words that seemed to be for nothing are getting into his head.
Addison on the other hand is the most difficult and frustrating child right now. This phase we are in is horrible, I have faint memories of it with Braden so I just keep telling myself it will pass. She wants me to do everything for her, she does absolutely nothing to help me out though when I'm dressing her and actually makes it more difficult. She wants to be held or carried everywhere, its like I have a baby all over again. But a baby with a bad attitude and a wicked mouth. Almost everything she says is a whiny complaint accompanied by sobbing. And if you say no to her or she doesn't get her way, its a long drawn out hysterical fit complete with throwing things or spilling her drink. So leaving the house is an awful ordeal, a fight with her over everything from shoes to coat to the loads of things she has to take with her.
And she doesn't listen to anything I say to her, she's completely in her own world and has no regard for when she is asked to do something. She doesn't learn from her mistakes either so I just hope that someday my words will sink in, they finally did for Braden. The only difference was Braden didn't do that many naughty, destructive things. Addison has a thing for scissors and when she gets a hold of them she cuts more than just paper which is the rule. She recently cut two holes in her pajama pants and several chunks of My Little Pony hair. She colored with crayon on the couch, table and a lot of toys. Markers have been banned from her for obvious reasons but I'm thinking all cutting and writing utensils need to be taken away. But then I feel like such a bad mom, she loves to color and cut, give her scissors and crayons and she'll entertain herself for a long time. If only she stuck to cutting and coloring paper only.
Fortunately she does love school and is very kind and well behaved there. She reserves her diva behavior for home. She also is still very much in love with her ballet class, however ice skating is not going so well. She is very nervous, has no confidence in herself and really doesn't enjoy it. So my test failed and we are going to do hockey next session, its what she said she wanted to do all along! I guess my second address will be the ice arena.
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