Living as a mom

Archive for November 10th, 2008

Days like today make me realize that we are making progress around here.

My dad came here to help us out with switching the winter and summer clothes over. It was such a productive day! The summer clothes are in the attic. The whole house is vacuumed. The entry way is organized with the coats hung and hats, mittens, and scarves sorted into baskets. All junk is cleared away, too. I even washed the entry way floor. This rarely happens because of behavior problems.

A2 played so nicely while my dad and I sorted and packed the clothes. She even did a great job waiting while we put things in the attic. It is quite an adventure to put things up there because we have to use a ladder and crawl around since we have a pitched roof. What a blessing!

A2 is officially potty trained! She goes into the bathroom independently now, and she tells an adult if she has to go. She wakes up dry in the morning and after a nap. It took her two weeks to do it! Thank you, Jesus that this went quickly!

C4 had a great day trying to use some OT strategies to manage some sensory seeking behaviors. When I gave warnings for not listening and bad choices, she responded well, too. (Our new discipline policy is to take privileges away one at a time – TV time and at bedtime 3 books & 3 songs. It has worked since she has lost those privileges a couple of times!) She was also helpful with cleaning up her bedroom and the kitchen after dinner. This is a huge step for C4 as the behaviors tend to escalate and we both lose control.

C4 did not have any potty issues today. Rather than throw a tantrum about needing to use the bathroom, she simply went. She even tried to go before we had to leave for her OT appointment today, which she never wants to do for me. Praise God!

Bedtime was a breeze tonight. We have a new routine. First, C4 cannot nap, which will take some time to adjust to, and I am limiting A2′s nap. We now do a little yoga in the girls’ bedroom at bedtime. Then we read books, and I sing to them once they are in bed. I pray with each of them individually, too. Leaving the door open a little has also helped. Tonight they fell right to sleep without testing me at all!

Sometimes I lose sight of the progress we have made. It helps for me to remind myself of how far we have come. I know that there are challenging days for everyone, but days like today help keep that in perspective.