Thursday, positives and negatives

Thursday, one of the days w/out pre-school.  We have gymnastics today.  This is her second class.  Last time she LOVED it so hopefully today will go just as well.  In the Strong Willed Wonders case a lot depends on how much she sleeps and sleep has become a big issue lately.  She has graduated from a toddler car bed, to sleeping in a sleeping bag on our floor, then in between us in our bed, to her own big girl bed.    Atleast the new bed has a really comfortable mattress so if we backtrack and end up with her in our queen sized bed one of us can go sleep in her twin bed instead of on the sofa downstairs.  Is that zen like thinking?  Probably not.

Anyway, the only dicey thing about gymnastics is that she cannot wear a dress so shorts or leggings have to be put on (sigh) which means that each item of clothing that is not a dress will come with a time-out for her. The time-out lets her get control of her anger and frustration so she can then work me in a more normal way.  The therapist actually suggested that we get her tested for adhd, but I pointed out she has no issues in a structured setting like pre-school and when she gets enough sleep she's a wonderful kid to be with.  Then at our last appointment he amended that and said she's probably giving us her version of the finger.  I did have her tested for adhd by early intervention and nope she's not, she's just good ole strong willed and gets mad when she can't accomplish something herself or have her own way.

I find doing time-outs to assert control and remind her that she's not in charge exhausting physically and mentally.  Supposedly as we work with her the time-outs will happen less and less frequently.  So, I'm going away with my parents for the weekend to their house in the mountains.  A time for me to just relax and chill instead of resenting the way the strong willed wonder acts.  I'll get my hair done, get to see the leaves changing in their glory, go to a cooking class the neighbor is doing, and out to dinner with neighbors with my mom while the men are at a scotch tasting "man" evening.  My husband is staying home with the Strong Willed Wonder.