Death to Toys
Yesterday kept trying to be a good day, but it kept turning into some kind of toy crisis every 4 minutes. Many days are like that around here, but yesterday it was worse and/or it was the last straw and/or I just need a serious break.
Late yesterday afternoon, Roo took something away from Bear for the 401st time. Bear proceeded to go ahead and kick Roo in the face, while I was standing right there, 5 seconds after I told him to walk away. I was pissed and fed up — or as Word Girl (on PBS) had explained earlier that day, I was “exasperated”.
The boys were sent to their rooms. By me, quite loudly. Normally this lasts for about 3 minutes. This time, it lasted longer. I informed them they would be staying in their rooms until their father got home (in about 20 minutes.) I checked back in on them every few minutes to make sure they knew I was still here.
Meanwhile I proceed to remove nearly all the toys from the house. Belive me, I had considered this before. They went in bins or bags out to our second car, which isn’t working right now so it’s not going anywhere.
Somewhere in that process, apparently I tweaked out my back pretty well. Hrmpf.
Sounds like good choices! I’m so sorry about your back. I curious about a follow-up. What is their response to the lack of toys and how is your back?
plus a 4am wake up?! that’s a bad day, friend. so sorry, hope today is much better.
Sounds like nuclear meltdown. Good choices momma. You are doing such a fantastic job.
Naomi,
this came across my desk today - theraputic preschool - and I thought of you. Let me be clear first though — not because of this post and not because your boys have “behavior” issues (from what you share, they are simply trying to process all there is to process (spd) - nor because I think school settings are the only place to grow and learn (homeschool!) — but I did think of you.
Maybe it’s a resource. And it happens to be in the neighborhood.
http://www.wellspringfs.org/get_help/early_learning/cornerstone_classrooms.php
thinking of you,
Melinda