Oh, because we have a daughter who sounds like a teenager, is too smart for her own good, and is funny while she's doing it to boot.
Let me give you a couple of examples.
The other day, Emily was FLIPPING OUT about having her hair done. Granted, it was pretty snarly but the girl was screaming like I had just ripped all of the hair out of her head. So I said to her, "Emily, stop screaming. I know it hurts but c'mon, don't you think you are overreacting a bit?" She said, "No, it hurts." I told her I knew it hurt, but that maybe she should find another way to channel her anger over the whole thing, rather than screaming bloody murder. What did she say? "Don't you tell me how to channel my anger. You're not a therapist. Only a therapist can do that."
Then, she came home yesterday with a newspaper torn to shreds in her bag. So I asked what happened and she said, "Serina did it on the bus." When I asked why she said, "Well obviously Mom, she has anger management issues."
Do I need to remind y'all that she is only 10 (well, almost anyway)?
T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Is anyone else out there...
...watching October Road? I love it and in some ways, it reminds me of my own neighborhood growing up (minus the scandalous parts...at least to my knowledge anyway!). A group of friends who all grew up together, stayed close through the years and stayed living in the same area? That sounds just about right.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Is Emily Old Enough?
It seems to be the question of the week around here. As she gets older, she asserts her independence more and more, which makes sense.
The first thing she wanted to do was walk around my parents neigborhood by herself. It's a very safe neighborhhod, the kind where you can actually play in the street and only have to worry about a car coming every once in a while. With a little convincing from my sister, I let her go. I was nervous about it the first few times, but eventually I was fine with it. Shortly after, I let Katherine go with Emily but I wouldn't let Katherine go alone.
A couple of weeks ago at Mardi Gras, she wanted to walk around by herself. The event is spread out across the school...in the gym, the cafe, and the hallways. I was nervous about this too. She goes to school there so I knew she wouldn't get lost but there were so many people there. Again, with a little convincing, I let her go and gave her a specific time and location in which she had to meet her father in the gym. She folllowed the guidelines and it was all good.
Her latest question is, "When will I be old enough to stay home alone?" My joking answer was, "I don't know, when your 20?" Her response was a long, groaning, "Mommmmmmmm." This is a big step though, and whether or not she is ready, I am not. Ten is way too young to be home alone.
She also keeps asking when she can get contacts, to which my answer has been, "when you start taking more responsibility for your things" which, I think is a good answer really. If you can't take care of what you already have, you can't get more. Of course, I am hoping that this type of thing would motivate her but, things like that don't seem to affect her. I don't know why but I think it has to do with the Executive Functioning Disorder, and not being able to plan for or anticipate things appropriately.
Anyway, the whole point of this entry was to say:
This parenting thing (especially with the first child who generally asks all these questions first)? It's hard. Damn hard. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, but honestly, I don't think I ever considered how tough this might be at times. Most people don't I would think. I mean there's a huge difference between holding a beautiful new baby in your arms and parenting a pre-teen. Yes, you think about the future and what it will bring, but you don't (or at least I didn't) think about all of the finer details, and how they all come in to play.
I really have no idea if I am doing a good job of saying what I am trying to say here. Anyone out there understand? Anyone?
The first thing she wanted to do was walk around my parents neigborhood by herself. It's a very safe neighborhhod, the kind where you can actually play in the street and only have to worry about a car coming every once in a while. With a little convincing from my sister, I let her go. I was nervous about it the first few times, but eventually I was fine with it. Shortly after, I let Katherine go with Emily but I wouldn't let Katherine go alone.
A couple of weeks ago at Mardi Gras, she wanted to walk around by herself. The event is spread out across the school...in the gym, the cafe, and the hallways. I was nervous about this too. She goes to school there so I knew she wouldn't get lost but there were so many people there. Again, with a little convincing, I let her go and gave her a specific time and location in which she had to meet her father in the gym. She folllowed the guidelines and it was all good.
Her latest question is, "When will I be old enough to stay home alone?" My joking answer was, "I don't know, when your 20?" Her response was a long, groaning, "Mommmmmmmm." This is a big step though, and whether or not she is ready, I am not. Ten is way too young to be home alone.
She also keeps asking when she can get contacts, to which my answer has been, "when you start taking more responsibility for your things" which, I think is a good answer really. If you can't take care of what you already have, you can't get more. Of course, I am hoping that this type of thing would motivate her but, things like that don't seem to affect her. I don't know why but I think it has to do with the Executive Functioning Disorder, and not being able to plan for or anticipate things appropriately.
Anyway, the whole point of this entry was to say:
This parenting thing (especially with the first child who generally asks all these questions first)? It's hard. Damn hard. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, but honestly, I don't think I ever considered how tough this might be at times. Most people don't I would think. I mean there's a huge difference between holding a beautiful new baby in your arms and parenting a pre-teen. Yes, you think about the future and what it will bring, but you don't (or at least I didn't) think about all of the finer details, and how they all come in to play.
I really have no idea if I am doing a good job of saying what I am trying to say here. Anyone out there understand? Anyone?
Julia's Newest Phrases And Words/EI 6 month assessment
Nevermind, in a sec, don't say that, and wait.
Examples:
#1
"Mom?"
"Yes, Julia?"
"Ah, nevermind."
I don't think she really knows the meaning of the word, she just knows how to use it in context. Still, it's kind of funny.
#2
"Mom, I just need to get in my car for a sec."
Again, not sure if she knows what "in a a sec" even means.
#3
"Julia, are you being silly?"
"(in a cute little embarrassed voice), "Don't say that."
#4
"WAIT!"
She even puts her hand up in a "stop" position when saying it. She definitely knows what this one means!
Julia had her 6 month assessment (6 months since her new plan was written anyway). It went well, mostly, although I have to say she was more willful and demanding than I have ever seen her, almost to the point of emabarrassment. I swear to God, when the kids learn how to be "2" or be "3" officially (like you know with the demands, and temper tantrums and asserting independence) the manners go right out the flippin' window. When she didn't want to participate in one of the games they were playing to assess her, she was saying things like, "No, I not do that anymore" or "I'm all done." She would say it with a little attitude in her voice and actually had her voiced raised. When she was actually enjoying an activity if her PT tried to take it away, Julia would look at her sternly and say with her hand raised, "WAIT." In some So I was sitting next to her saying, "wait please" and "no thank you" and they were like, "Don't worry about it...this is so normal for a two year old in this kind of setting." In some respects it was good to see her actually stand up for herself, I just wish she could have been a little more polite about it! It reminded me of how the psychic told me about a year and a half ago that my youngest would be "a little spit fire" and I thought to myself, "Julia? She must be confused or something." Apparently though, she may have had something there!
Anyway...the assessment. She was at 26 months for her gross motor skills which is a delay of about 6 months. Virtually the only thing that got her this number was her stair skills, which are, well non-existent. I mean, she can crawl up the stairs and scoot down, but she can not walk independently up and down the stairs. She needs both a hand and a railing in order to maneuver the stairs on her feet. Everything else was pretty much right on target.
I am a little nervous about whether or not she will get in to the integrated preschool. They usually look for a bigger delay than she actually has. Of course, this is good but because of her low tone and the fact that she can not ascend or descend stairs independently, I am a little nervous that not getting weekly PT will cause further delays (meaning she will get older and the delay will stretch further and further). I do have her doctor's reccomendation though, so I am hoping that helps.
I need to look further into outside services too. I mean, will this low tone affect her always? I feel like in addition to catching her up developmentally, we should be doing more in the way of actually building her tone by doing strength training or something. I worry about things like gym class and things of that nature too. It's not that far in to the future really...she will be three in July.
Examples:
#1
"Mom?"
"Yes, Julia?"
"Ah, nevermind."
I don't think she really knows the meaning of the word, she just knows how to use it in context. Still, it's kind of funny.
#2
"Mom, I just need to get in my car for a sec."
Again, not sure if she knows what "in a a sec" even means.
#3
"Julia, are you being silly?"
"(in a cute little embarrassed voice), "Don't say that."
#4
"WAIT!"
She even puts her hand up in a "stop" position when saying it. She definitely knows what this one means!
Julia had her 6 month assessment (6 months since her new plan was written anyway). It went well, mostly, although I have to say she was more willful and demanding than I have ever seen her, almost to the point of emabarrassment. I swear to God, when the kids learn how to be "2" or be "3" officially (like you know with the demands, and temper tantrums and asserting independence) the manners go right out the flippin' window. When she didn't want to participate in one of the games they were playing to assess her, she was saying things like, "No, I not do that anymore" or "I'm all done." She would say it with a little attitude in her voice and actually had her voiced raised. When she was actually enjoying an activity if her PT tried to take it away, Julia would look at her sternly and say with her hand raised, "WAIT." In some So I was sitting next to her saying, "wait please" and "no thank you" and they were like, "Don't worry about it...this is so normal for a two year old in this kind of setting." In some respects it was good to see her actually stand up for herself, I just wish she could have been a little more polite about it! It reminded me of how the psychic told me about a year and a half ago that my youngest would be "a little spit fire" and I thought to myself, "Julia? She must be confused or something." Apparently though, she may have had something there!
Anyway...the assessment. She was at 26 months for her gross motor skills which is a delay of about 6 months. Virtually the only thing that got her this number was her stair skills, which are, well non-existent. I mean, she can crawl up the stairs and scoot down, but she can not walk independently up and down the stairs. She needs both a hand and a railing in order to maneuver the stairs on her feet. Everything else was pretty much right on target.
I am a little nervous about whether or not she will get in to the integrated preschool. They usually look for a bigger delay than she actually has. Of course, this is good but because of her low tone and the fact that she can not ascend or descend stairs independently, I am a little nervous that not getting weekly PT will cause further delays (meaning she will get older and the delay will stretch further and further). I do have her doctor's reccomendation though, so I am hoping that helps.
I need to look further into outside services too. I mean, will this low tone affect her always? I feel like in addition to catching her up developmentally, we should be doing more in the way of actually building her tone by doing strength training or something. I worry about things like gym class and things of that nature too. It's not that far in to the future really...she will be three in July.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Stuff
So last night, I had a dream that there was a live fish (with lots of teeth) in my sink, a tree, yes, a tree growing through my house with a bleepin' opossum hanging from it, and that I was in jail for a crime which was not clearly defined. Yeah, I know I am crazy, but just because I am me, I had to look up the meaning.
Fish: can symbolize a slippery or elusive situation.
Rats (which was the closest thing I could find to an opposum): shows feelings of doubt and guilt.
Trees: can symbolize feeling trapped, or in an awkward situation.
Jail: can symbolize feeling trapped and restricted.
Ok so obviously I...
A. need to get out more.
B. need to stop stressing about stupid shit that I have no control over.
C. need to be "ok" with the fact that, dammit, I just can't do it all.
I used to have crazy dreams like this all of the time. I guess I should be thankful that they are far and few between now. It still though, after all this time, freaks me out how "true to life" some dreams (or at least their meanings)really are.
Fish: can symbolize a slippery or elusive situation.
Rats (which was the closest thing I could find to an opposum): shows feelings of doubt and guilt.
Trees: can symbolize feeling trapped, or in an awkward situation.
Jail: can symbolize feeling trapped and restricted.
Ok so obviously I...
A. need to get out more.
B. need to stop stressing about stupid shit that I have no control over.
C. need to be "ok" with the fact that, dammit, I just can't do it all.
I used to have crazy dreams like this all of the time. I guess I should be thankful that they are far and few between now. It still though, after all this time, freaks me out how "true to life" some dreams (or at least their meanings)really are.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Life
Good God people, remember the days of multiple blog entries? Probably not, given how far gone they are. They did exist at one point I think.
Life as they say, has gotten in the way of my computer time, blogging or otherwise. I spent the day today doing more laundry than should be legal, sorting through winter and spring clothes, hanging with Julia,boiling eggs for egg coloring festivities this evening, and taking care of Katherine, who is home with strep throat (again).
On Friday night I went up to Haverhill to actually attend a lia sophia show (as opposed to presenting a lia sophia show). My sisters and I spend the day Saturday shopping in Newburyport (not major shopping just looking around at all of the cutesy shops in the area), having lunch on the water, and taking in a late afternoon movie (Reign Over Me...which was great). It was some nice "sister bonding time."
On Sunday I took care of sorting through boxes and boxes of clothing which Ryun had procured from the basement. I went out late afternoon and did some spring clothes shopping for the kids and came back to cook a nice roast beef dinner for the family.
A busy weekend is turning in to a busy week, which hopefully include buying and getting a minivan on the road. Bob heads to the auction tomorrow morning so we will see.
Life as they say, has gotten in the way of my computer time, blogging or otherwise. I spent the day today doing more laundry than should be legal, sorting through winter and spring clothes, hanging with Julia,boiling eggs for egg coloring festivities this evening, and taking care of Katherine, who is home with strep throat (again).
On Friday night I went up to Haverhill to actually attend a lia sophia show (as opposed to presenting a lia sophia show). My sisters and I spend the day Saturday shopping in Newburyport (not major shopping just looking around at all of the cutesy shops in the area), having lunch on the water, and taking in a late afternoon movie (Reign Over Me...which was great). It was some nice "sister bonding time."
On Sunday I took care of sorting through boxes and boxes of clothing which Ryun had procured from the basement. I went out late afternoon and did some spring clothes shopping for the kids and came back to cook a nice roast beef dinner for the family.
A busy weekend is turning in to a busy week, which hopefully include buying and getting a minivan on the road. Bob heads to the auction tomorrow morning so we will see.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Baby Jack
For those who may be wondering...
...yes, my nephew Jack is still the cutest little boy on the planet.
...yes, my nephew Jack is still the cutest little boy on the planet.
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