2 posts tagged “kids”

There is nothing quite like being awakened at 6:15 am (after finally falling asleep around 5ish), by an unending, earsplitting scream. You know when you awake suddenly to a noise that shouldn't be there, then impatiently wait for your cognitive senses to kick in so that you can begin to interpret whether you should arm yourself with a baseball bat, or huddle under the covers.

This earsplitting shriek happened to belong to Declan, who is not a screamer by nature. And by earsplitting... I mean it quite literally. My room is off of the garage. Quite seperate from the house. And the house is very soundproof. However....I swear that scream was directly beside my ear.

When my senses returned, I attempted to understand the situation.....was Declan hurt? Had he cut off an arm? Did he fall down a well? Then I considered the most likely things. He was upset. I was willing to bet it had something to do with Tay. So my options....did I ignore it, and hope that they didn't murder each other? Let them work it out? (Really....attempt to just sleep....) But as the scream went on, I figured I ought to go and check, just to make sure.

And sure enough....a good old sibling dispute. Listening to 2 sides of the story. Attempting to disentangle some semblence of the truth.

Do any of you know what it is like trying to reason with a six year old? And a tired one at that? The small upset turned into....I'm afraid mom won't come home from work ever....I can't sleep because it is so dark....I don't like school because nobody wants to play with me, and they don't like me (some truth to this one, as one bully seems determined to pick on Declan). However, when all of this is spun at you in a matter of seconds, with a sleep foggy brain....I got down to his level.....allowed him to vent. Calmly told him I understood he was feeling upset, then hugged him tightly. I also explained how screaming wasn't a good solution, and that it had scared me, since I thought he had been hurt. He asked where Kodi was....I told him in my room....scared from the noise. This point he understood. Then he said he was sorry. I hugged him again. He asked could I please stay awake, since Michaela could sometimes be mean. I nodded. The trials of a 6 year old.

Next I turned to Tay. She was in her room, her back to the door, expecting trouble. Instead, I walked up behind her, gave her a "backwards hug" and whispered softly...you are doing a great job....try not to get too frustrated with him. Surprised, she hugged me back, and said thanks.

Things went a lot smoother from there. Tay was kind and polite and patient. Declan even attempted to get his morning chores (make bed, brush teeth) done. All went well, until the dreaded timer went off. The timer that says in it's beeps that it's time to get ready for the bus. Then the tears started up again...."I didn't even get to play. I only just finished brushing my teeth."  I nodded, and explained that most of his free time had been used while he was screaming and crying. But the brain started to wander...back to all of his trials, and so instead I left him and leashed up Kodiak. This brightened his spirits, and in our wait for the bus, we raced around the front yard.  Thank goodness for dog companions. I love him.

So today is actually tomorrow....and it seems I've messed up NaBloPoMo already. And I hope you'll excuse me. I'm afraid I've been a bit off. That being said.......

Michaela was in a cooking mood....and so we filled the kitchen with popcorn balls, cupcakes, cookies. She made her famous grilled cheese.... It was good to see her happy, smiling. She hasn't done a lot of that in a long long time. Since before the move really. I worry about her. She worries about me. We worry together.

Master Kodi and Sir Norton are warily beginning to like each other now. Not that Kodi ever disliked Norton. They are good entertainment....which typically goes like this:

Kodi spots Norton. Norton flattens ears, and begins to wag tail remarkably fast. Kodi proceeds to dance around him, happily smiling and wagging his tail. Norton sits calmy and waits to trap Kodi. Kodi falls for the trap.Norton waits until Kodi is within reaching distance, then proceeds to box his ears soundly and smartly.

There is nothing funnier in the world than this exchange. Watching Kodi....determined to make a new friend, and Norton (who secretly enjoys playing with Kodi, but is determined to show him that Norton owns the house). There is nothing stupid about Kodiak.......he absolutely knows what will happen. But you see.....he is making strides.....Norton has stopped hissing and baring his teeth. Victory for Kodi!