Here they are putting up the outside lights. We don't go crazy, just enough for Cam to think it's cool :) Last year one of my favorite things to do was to walk around our neighborhood with Cam and look at the lights each evening. I'm excited to do that again this year, and hopefully some with Kendall.
Kendall LOVED playing with the village. I had to put a stop to it once she broke off one of the men's heads. What did I expect?? :)
The not so fun part came just as we were about to leave in the afternoon. The plan was for Chris to take Cam out and I to take Kendall. We split up like this sometimes to get some one on one time with the kids.
Anyway, Cam accidentally dropped a huge snow globe, shattering it everywhere. Both Chris and I have learned over the years to NEVER raise our voice at Cam, talk too sternly, or have an angry tone (obviously this doesn't apply in dangerous situations... like if he is running out into the street and I have to yell for him to stop). Any sense that we are unhappy/upset sends him into a funk (won't calm down, keeps talking about it, etc.). Knowing this, I walked in and cheerfully asked him what had happened and proceeded to tell him that we had plenty of snow globes...no big deal! It didn't work. I think the combination of being scared at the shattering, getting a cut involving blood (which, what kid LIKES blood??), and feeling like he did something wrong just sent him over the edge.
It took an hour for him to finally snap out of it. By that time, we had changed the plan and Chris had left with Kendall (Cam wouldn't really leave my side). I think the hard part for Chris and I was that we felt so helpless. We just CAN'T get through to him during times like these. We just have to wait them out. While this was discouraging for us, we did think about the fact that we rarely have things like this happen anymore. So while it was hard, the fact that we used to experience this type of thing much more often is of some comfort.
p.s. Once he snapped out of it, we had a great time going to play at Chick Filet. :)
4 comments:
Oh POOP!! and the day was going so well! Does it make you feel any better for me to praise you for being calm and showing restraint? PROPS to you for that! frustrating that it happened but at least you can tell yourself you did the best you could to keep Cam comfortable after it happened? (rather than feel regret over having been too harsh or having lost your temper)? love you! you are a good mommy! another thought is that while i know you try to keep Cam as comfy as possible, accidents happen and so, at least it happened at your house in a safe environment and you had some flexibility in your day to change plans ... ?? XOXO
Yes, that's a good thought, Karen, that the more things like this that happen with you two, the better fortified he'll be when things happen outside. Bless his heart.
BTW, what does a broken snow globe look like? Is it goopy clear gel or liquid or what?
It's so tricky learning how to help your child in different situations... we're trying to learn a lot right now to help Ethan. I'm glad those situations are getting few and far between for you.
Your Christmas decorations look fun :) Isn't it great how thrilling little ones think lights are? My Christmas decorations are already getting torn up by my two :)
a broken snow globe has a very distinct stale water smell, an immense amount of glitter, and more shards of broken glass than our broom could handle.
signed,
the husband
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