Tonight Pete was fighting sleep but in the sweetest way. He was snuggled in next to me, signing "I love you" and patting my cheek gently.
Joe read me a book for the first time -- what a treat! It was a library book about the duck-billed platypus. He sailed effortlessly past "mammal" and "mouthful" and "worm." I haven't pushed him to read to me because he's made a big fuss about not being a good reader. I was astonished.
Marty told me after bedtime prayer that he wants to be a priest, and also that he lies in bed every night and worries before he falls asleep. I promised to see what I could find to help him with that. Any ideas?
Alex and I butted heads ALL DAY LONG, but we said a peaceful goodnight and I have some ideas about how to cut down on the head-butting. We get along best when it's just the two of us.
Elwood offered to take the kids on a road trip tomorrow, allowing me to stay home and work like a crazy woman!
I am much, much less sick. If normal is New Orleans, I spent the last month in Chicago. Now I'm in Memphis -- not all the way back home but at least I can see the magnolias blooming. I can't even tell you how nice it is.
Joe read me a book for the first time -- what a treat! It was a library book about the duck-billed platypus. He sailed effortlessly past "mammal" and "mouthful" and "worm." I haven't pushed him to read to me because he's made a big fuss about not being a good reader. I was astonished.
Marty told me after bedtime prayer that he wants to be a priest, and also that he lies in bed every night and worries before he falls asleep. I promised to see what I could find to help him with that. Any ideas?
Alex and I butted heads ALL DAY LONG, but we said a peaceful goodnight and I have some ideas about how to cut down on the head-butting. We get along best when it's just the two of us.
Elwood offered to take the kids on a road trip tomorrow, allowing me to stay home and work like a crazy woman!
I am much, much less sick. If normal is New Orleans, I spent the last month in Chicago. Now I'm in Memphis -- not all the way back home but at least I can see the magnolias blooming. I can't even tell you how nice it is.
Gemma worries at bedtime, too. In spurts, she worries a lot.
Sometimes a physical release (back massage) helps a little. Sometimes a physical object (a stuffed animal). Sometimes she needs to talk through the worry a little.
We've talked about consciously setting aside the worry (not in quite that high-falutin language) and thinking of a peaceful, happy place. Deep breathing. All the grown-up techniques. I'm not sure they work yet.
I'm glad you're feeling better. Here's to a smooth landing back at home.
Posted by: Jody | May 26, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Ooh, I have a good idea for the worrier: A worry box. We used to have one and ALL used it. Cut a hole in the top of a shoe box or decorate an empty Kleenex box. At a certain time each day, for an alloted amount of time (5-10 minutes), you sit with your box and do your worrying. Write down the worries on a piece of paper and stick them in the box. That way, when it's time for bed, you don't need to worry because it's not the right time of day for worrying, and you've already done it :)
Posted by: jenny | May 26, 2008 at 04:12 PM