I constantly try to monitor what Bradley chooses to watch on
his iPad. And he constantly tries to
keep me from monitoring. I will delete
histories of things I prefer he not watch, and he manages, maybe remembers how
he got to those things that I would prefer he not spend all his time
watching. And there are sometimes that I
delete history on things that I just can’t stand to hear anymore. Deleting history on Ryan’s Toy Review, or now
Ryan’s World – was I have to admit more about dislike that anything else. I feel like that kid has made enough money off
of my kid, but his millions a year aren’t just from my kid, but enough dollars
are from Bradley that I sometimes I think I might be deleting out of
spite. I don’t know, maybe make that kid
work for it a little more. Take a pay
cut for a week until Bradley finds him again.
Jealous much? Well, yeah…duh. Rubbing my face in the fact that they have made
so much money that dad stays home and plays too…whatever, over all of you…see
you next week when Bradley finds you, AGAIN!
Bradley likes to mimic too.
But he’ll watch something once and mimic or he’ll wait and watch something
a million times before he decides to mimic it.
Like the little boys that make up all these Nerf gun wars… ugh!!! The first hundred times it’s all right but
after that, you notice the scripted acting that isn’t that great because they’re
just kids…but you let it go, cause they are just kids…and then you realize that
they are making money off of you as you watch so then you want better acting
since you are paying for it. But then
Bradley goes looking for his Nerf gun; leaves the annoying boys (and the iPad)
behind, and I watch him trot through the house doing what he perceives them
doing… them just running back and forth with their Nerf guns, usually in the
dark. We spend a lot of time turning lights
back on when he is into watching those boys.
Delete and see them again in a week.
Then there are the little nursery songs. And the Boo-Boo song which is annoying after
the second time hearing it, but gets played in a loop anyway. What does that teach him? Hmm… He will tap his elbow on his iPad and
look at one of us and say “Ouch.” Then push his boo-boo our way for a kiss. We comply.
He’ll copy their body parts and we will kiss each boo-boo. Then my head will feel like it is just one
big boo-boo and I will move him to something else. I don’t delete this one. Here’s why.
Bradley really has a high tolerance for pain, he has to hurt quite a bit
to let you know. He’s learning to realize
what these little bumps and bruises are and to come to us when it “hurts”. Actually, a pretty big learning moment each
time. He also has discovered that others
have boo-boos too. Tears need kisses,
and bumps need kisses too. Lately, when
we bonk noggins, he will then force my head down (a whole other boo-boo
actually) and then kiss my head where we hit.
Same with other areas: elbows, fingers, knees… you say ouch and he is going to kiss where he
thinks your boo-boo might be. Usually it’s
your head. You may hit you foot, but the
top of your head is where you actually need the boo-boo fixing. It’s all a science I promise.
What else does this do?
When he actually hurts something, he is taking notice, and when he starts
to cry, he comes to one of us. Finally,
we are getting some recognition and understanding. We are hopeful that this will lead to
inquiry: “Where does it hurt?” And response: Indication of pain at the correct
site… ears, mouth, nose, stomach… wherever.
The ideal is that if he does feel pain, he’ll tell us by pointing to the
problem spot thereby ending the constant guessing game as we try to determine
the cause. This is most especially fun
at a doctor appointment. “Ears hurt?” Mom: “Maybe?”
Blank stare… “Sorry Doc, you ask him and see what you get.”
Doc: “Do your ears hurt Bradley?” Blank stare… “Okay, let’s
check your ears.” Uh-huh.
It’s a work in progress.
Life is a work in progress, some days there is a lot of progress, some
forward and some back…but as long as there is movement, I guess it is what it
will be. We don’t always get to move
forward with Bradley, some days it’s more like trying to stop a slide down a
particularly steep and wet embankment while wearing brand new dress shoes…but
life is what it is and you make the most out of the one you are given or you let
yourself slide all the way back down to the bottom. The parenting is no different:
help your kids learn life skills, how to take care of themselves and move along
in this life in what we hope is a positive and successful motion. The basics. Only thing different between the girls and
Bradley is the timeline, he just needs a different timeline.
So, one step at a time. One lesson at a time, sometimes from a silly
nursery rhyme, sometimes from one of us… sometimes from some over paid little
kids playing in a video… (grumble,
grumble, grumble…but thanks) but every step is important and each one is needed
to help him learn the basics…and start to be more independent. Making others very rich is an unfortunate side
effect that I am only slightly annoyed by…maybe moderately… but I’ll get over
it eventually.
Happy Thursday all! Thanks
for stopping by the 31 For 21 Blog Challenge.
See you all tomorrow!!!
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