Jordan decided that he wanted his office moved into our bedroom. The office gets hot during the day, even with ac. I agreed because it gives the boys a space that we can do activities in.
It isn't set up quite how I want it to be, but it will be a work in progress for awhile. They are very happy to have a room that is for them to play in. I brought back in the radio and have a few cd's to choose from. This has been the main attraction this week.
Today we did a bean transfer activity and Cedrik played for an hour and a half. Wow.
I've been reading Raising Your Spirited Child. It has already saved so many melt downs this week. I've been able to better recognize when Cedrik is starting to lose it and calm him down. He now has a "special spot." This sounds cheesy, today it worked! Instead of "time-out" (Jordan can't stand that term) I came up with special spot. It is the spot where he can go when he feels his body starting to get mad. I sat with him for a few minutes today, it was the first time he has had to go there. He got to pick the spot and I've been explaining that when we get mad we need to go to our special spot to let our bodies relax. That seems, so far, to be a positive way of doing it and positivity goes a long way with him. He shuts down when we are at all negative (which sometimes just has to happen).
This book has given me so much to think about. So many things that just needed to be brought to my attention. AND it makes me feel like a better mother. I don't have to worry about looks or "helpful suggestions" from people who are trying to be nice. I also don't have to wonder what I'm doing wrong when I see and hear how well behaved other kids are! Nothing is wrong with my child and now I'm learning the tools to teach him how to use his strengths and turn his weaknesses into strengths. What a relief!
He is an intense, spirited extrovert!
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