I will pummel you. Because I like you.

We’re in a world of hurt over here, Folks.  The shoving has begun.  Ry has starting hitting in frustration, in curiosity, in rebellion… and it’s ugly.  In some situations she’s completely fine… and in others I find myself looking for a hole to jump into.  I realize almost every (honest) parent deals with this at some point, but when it’s YOU and YOUR kid you feel like the worst person in the world. 

I recently read a really decent article on this that went beyond the ethereal, ‘Get on their level and explain that it hurts other people.’  Don’t get me wrong- that’s brilliant… but when you get on my kid’s level she hits you.  Here’s a short excerpt:

Choose durable playmates and understanding parents. While your son is working on learning gentleness, it can reduce the stress on everyone if you spend most of your time with easy-going, active kids who don’t take being hit too seriously. Spending time with parents who understand young children’s clumsy attempts at being social, can help reduce your stress and sense of ostracism about your child’s behavior. [ivilliage.com]

There was so much more to the article, but I really appreciated that paragraph.  It is not uncommon for children with apraxia to scream and be physical when trying to show excitement or distress (awesome).  Happy, sad, excited, frustrated, testy, tired, silly… it’s all resulting in hitting these days.  It’s all rolled into this terrible Three Year-Old Phase / I Can’t Make Words Yet combo…

and sometimes it’s awful.

Thank you to my durable, encouraging, understanding friends and family… and their kids.  As a parent when your child has been hit or shoved or yelled at by another, what kind of response do you appreciate most from the other parent?  I rely heavily on the sincerest of sincere apologies and sometimes buying them pie.

Gus Man is 4 months old today.  Holy crap.  Last Tuesday, we were given the green light to take his braces off 12 hours a day… that’s 2 months early!  We’ll have a check up to make sure everything is holding steady, but for now his legs are free during the daytime.  It’s heaven. 

He is still not sleeping well.  Or soundly.  Or for any length of time without serious assistance… and much of that is my fault.  I have been a wuss this time around with letting him figure it out on his own.  It’s hard to let him cry it out when you know that simply touching him will let both of you sleep.  I also don’t think he needs to eat at 3am… I think he knows I’ll come get him.  I love him.  He’s very cute.  And, very smart. I’m thinking of starting him on cereal soon to see if that helps him sleep a bit. The jury is out on that method, but hey.  

I’m the last to judge these days.

He’s sooooo so so very much better than ever before, and we still like him very much.  He saves his biggest smiles for Rylie, which is just about the cutest thing ever.

For better or worse, we’re headed up north with the rest of the Mulder clan and cousins galore for our annual camping trip to Platte River.  Let’s take Monday off and meet back here Thursday, ok?

Happy 4th!