Seth's Weblog

Not letting him eat grapes right out of the bag. (I don’t know where his hands have been.)
Getting him off the potty, because he’s probably just stalling to avoid getting dressed.
Getting dressed.
Taking him out of Savannah’s bed when he has to go into his crib.
Taking away food at the front door cause there’s a No Food in Daddy’s Car rule.
Putting him into his car seat.

Until recently, it was not my style to coax a child into getting dressed or brushing teeth. If Seth didn’t “be my helper” then I was not going to beg. There are mornings it seems that I just don’t have time for that.

I think something changed after some friends kept the kiddies. We watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. As a child, the lead male says of his mother, something like, “Why won’t she look at me? She’s always so busy.” I thought, how sad. Is that what it’s like for Seth? Then when Seth saw me again, he said,”Mama! Mama!” He said it like such a big boy.

Maybe the next day, instead of grabbing him and making him get his diaper and clothes on, breaking a sweat, getting upset, I let him run away just a ltitle bit and went after him playfully. I said things like be my helper and I’m gonna git you. He pretty much willingly lets me with very little fight, I believe, after he sees that it’s not a terrible thing and Mama’s willing to have fun.

Posted by Georgia at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seth’s temper flares are bigger. He tries to run off sometimes when he’s mad, crying or fussing, and as he runs, he takes hard, little steps as if he’s trying to stomp and run at the same time. He has also started to hit in my direction and stick the edge of his tongue out and give little spits when he’s mad. He doesn’t like his nose cleaned, which most children don’t I imagine, so I have to force it, at the same time saying, I know, I know; or It’s ok; or I’ll be done soon. When I’m done, he spits with his tongue and hits himself in the face.

Sadly, Seth probably gets his temper from me. But there’s hope. He’s only 2. After he gets into trouble, he often turns into a puppy again. Then he’ll cry because he doesn’t want Mama to be upset with him. However, these moments of repentence are fewer and fewer. I’ve wondered if he’s desentitized to my discipline. It happened with Savannah by this age. I thought, she doesn’t understand English yet, so I have to use a firm tone. I used a very firm tone, not realizing that she did understand a lot more than I assumed. It wasn’t long before she ignored my firm tone. I’ve heard that about yelling. A yelling parent would get more attention from a child if the parent whispered. So I only use the firm tone when it’s important. The other day, I just gave him a look, and he got that sad look in his eye, that his happy connection with me was momentarily lost. I believe it’s that connection that the child wants back, therefore, they show they’re sorry. He gets hugs and kisses and nice words from me when he’s sorry.

Posted by Georgia at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

“Go way” (Go away),
“‘Top it” (Stop it)
“Wait up.”
“Me Too.”
“Up” (He says this when he wants to be picked up, usually when he sees me going for Arwen.)

Do you see a pattern here? He is full of new expressions, but the ones he uses the most are used to stand up for himself, get his share, and make sure he’s not left out. :(

Posted by Georgia at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When Seth sees the route that we’re taking in the car, as we near the grocery store, he says, “Cookie!” When I still drove the van and Savannah’s car seat was positioned behind Seth’s, he’d say, “Cookie! Wanna!” (Savannah) It was really cute becuase he’d say it when he saw our route even when she was at school. Now that I drive the car, he can see that Savannah isn’t with us, so he announces, “Cookie! Arwen!”

Posted by Georgia at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seth left Arwen alone for a while. I think I preferred that. She can’t defend herself yet. But he has a renewed interest. I’m not sure how it started, perhaps it was Savannah’s going off to school. I put her in the tv room floor. Savannah and Seth stay aware of her. I don’t really worry about their accidentlally running or stepping on her.

It’s when he turns his attention fully on her that I have to be quick. Several days ago, I looked down at them and he was sitting, straddled, on her stomach. She didn’t seem to mind, but I got him up and scolded him. He likes to pinch her cheek, stick a finger in her ear which Savannah thinks is really gross, and as he’s walking he steps over her like a hurdle on an obstacle course. Yesterday he put his hand on her stomach and put all his weight on her. She didn’t cry. (It looked about like the pressure the doctor applies to check her stomach’s development.) I should let him loose in the backyard more. Maybe the ticks are frozen by now.

Posted by Georgia at 9:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)