My mind is in absolute overdrive dealing with Noah lately. Every time I sit down to type a post about something benign, Noah creeps out of my mind and into the text on my screen. I've got started-not-finished posts trying to define and explain the issues; as well as posts asking for Help!, as well as posts defending parental choices that are possibly leading us to this point in his...
development? I have angry posts to parents-at-the-playground or posts to parents-shooting-their-mouths in the pickup line at school; things are left unsaid because I'm
classier than that, and stooping to that level is part of the problem, you know?
And then there are the types of posts that actually get posted lately: distraction posts.
Let's start with some facts:
Noah is 5 years old. (I think that's important because some of these behaviors might be less egregious in a younger child. Oops, sorry, Nonfact. But I need to write that.)
1. Noah dumped two buckets of sand on the head 3 year old at the playground. It was unprovoked. He walked about 7 feet carrying the bucket of sand to the point of impact.
2. Noah got in a fight with A
Parent at the playground.
3. Noah has taken to hitting me when a) he doesn't stop a bad behavior when asked and I am without choice other than to b) physically remove him from a situation.
4. Noah BIT his brother on the arm this morning.
Three of these fall under the category of unreasonable aggression, in my opinion. I feel like I MUST address them. This is a stance undoubtably influenced by our
family's particular circumstances.
And now some more subjective information. In combination with other things, it's also driving me crazy:
5. There's a lot of Name Calling around here.
6. There are phrases that are being used KIND OF contextually accurately. Like "You sick!" when somebody takes away a toy a) Okay, first of all, that's WRONG it should be "You suck." b) But I'm not going to teach him that, especially when Mattias (2 years old) copies everything Noah says. c) Also, Noah doesn't really understand how offensive it is, he only understands that it annoys me, and so he says it - more or less at the right time - with the added benefit of getting my attention - which an alternative, 5-year-old appropriate expression may not do and.... d) And I WANT to ignore him thus foiling c), but see b). I know some of you might think this kind of talking is funny on little ones, but trust me, it's a lot less funny when they get older.
7. The house and the yard and the porch and deck are disaster zones. There is constant ongoing playing with anything that is not a toy. Today, it's brooms and mops that are oars for the boat (pigeon blue sofa). Yes, Noah makes stuff with tape and paper and scissors. And stuff and more stuff. And yes, it's wildly creative. And yes, it's better than watching television. Or playing video games. And yes, I AM PROUD that my kids have no f*cking idea what Angry Birds is/are? But my head is all mucked up when the house is all mucked up.
8. Punishments. Or whatever you want to call them. Okay, look: this is frustrating the shit out of me. Today, I kept Noah home from school because HE BIT his brother. I consider BITING to be an extremely serious infraction and taking away school was the best way I could think of to send a strong message to him. He loves school. However, it put me in deep pain because a) his preschool is a huge cost in our budget and b) I NEED the time away from him that preschool provides. I think it's self-centered and stupid to say, "This is hurting me more than it's hurting you." I would never say that to my kids. But I'm telling you. That
was the case with this punishment.
Regarding punishments, you might say, "Oh, we take away our kids toys." Good. Glad that's working for you. Guess what? See point 7.
We do Time Outs. But they also have limited effectiveness.
Or perhaps, as the parent-shooting-his-mouth said, I should just do what HIS parents did: "Boy, if my parents saw me doing something like that, they would have given me a beating."
We don't do spanking, something that other parents will tell me behind closed doors that they do use. I don't even know how strongly I feel about NOT doing this. Well, pretty strongly...perhaps. Still, like I said, I am really being pushed by some behaviors right now. What I do know is that IT IS considered child abuse in Germany and that's maybe enough to keep me from spanking. Also, see intro paragraph about being classier and not sinking to the level of the problem.
SIGH.
My one consolation this week has been my mother's insight on Noah's push-push-pushing. She says, "Well, this is your teaching opportunity. Lots of times, kids aren't ready to learn until they push. We think we can teach them
before things become a problem. We think we headed off the problem. But that's not always true."
SIGH. Again.
I actually try NOT to write posts like this, because who is this helping, really? And who cares? Me, I guess. If I didn't type posts this, it would just sit there and simmer and I would not be able to let go. I would continue writing cryptic posts eluding to
it, but not saying
it. Argh. So, letting go. And knowing that I can click on the delete button and feel somewhat...better. And you know what? Lots of times, I'll let a post sit for 24 hours before I post, against my better judgment (perhaps), this is an In The Moment Go.
Now I have a special request. If you comment, Please Please Please, do not type one tiny word about Love and Logic because I'm pretty sure I hate L&L. My greatest fear in typing this is that someone will post, "Hey! You should go to a Love and Logic class! They're great! They totally helped me with my son!" And it might be unreasonable to ask. But it's my unreasonableness and it's my blog and if you even suggest that I attend a class... well, we're too classy to do threats around here. Alternative suggestions to L&L are more than welcome.
* Huh, Noah told me 'Dude' is a derogative - not in those words - and I wondered why he said that, but now I know, I USE IT AS A DEROGATIVE.
