Staying power – Thursday Thirteen

 
 
 
 
 
Thirteen Things about Maddy’s Mayhem
I have wanted to try the Thursday Thirteen for quite a while, but I was never able to think of thirteen anythings, as 3 is usually about my limit. Then, as if by chance, a foolish therapist suggested that we should adopt a new campaign to improve our quality of life. I baulked at the suggestion and she queried my resistance, “but we already have a zillion campaigns on the go as it is, I couldn’t possibly squeeze in another, something might go pop!” I could see that she was doubtful and so I began a lengthy list of the current ongoing campaigns. I expect they are very similar to most parents’ campaigns.

1. Sharing and taking turns. All children are subject to this arbitrary peace making attempt by parents.

2. Use your words! Preferable to screams and or meltdowns.

3. The speech therapy practice of the ‘th’ sound, very common for small lispy people.

4. When you bump into someone you should apologize. ‘Sorry’ will do. Purpose? To help with self awareness, or awareness of where your body is in space, as well as a greater awareness that other people also exist on the same rather crowded planet.

5. Change the question ‘what it is’ into ‘what is it?’ Plus the sub campaign of referencing back, where the questioner should give a small clue or hint about what the question refers to.

6. Keep clothing on body, this is not a seasonal rule.

7. Eat a new food, preferably within the next 12 months.

8. Tolerate texture and it’s sub campaign regarding temperature fluctuations.

9. Volume control. We need some.

10. Before you enter the house put your shoes on the shelf. Enter the house and put your socks in the bucket. Currently this campaign has been ongoing for 4 years with limited if any success despite frequent daily practice. This campaign came into existence out of necessity. I took me too much time to remove six shoes, socks, assorted clothes and backpacks from the doorway and leave the children unsupervised INSIDE the house.

It seemed simpler to teach them this life skill instead. It isn’t simpler. My body bars entry into the house as they each attempt these few small steps, verbal prompts, visual prompts all delivered promptly to no avail but at least we are all within the same 6 foot area, and there’s safety in supervision.

Four years of the wrong campaign. Instead of adding a campaign I should spend my time thinking through what’s going wrong with this one campaign. I could probably claw back an additional twenty to twenty five minutes of time per trip.

11. Do not twiddle and fiddle with your fingers. I am determined to beat this genetic fluke before our household is devoid of buttons, door knobs, tags, labels etc..

12. Modulation and regulation in everything. This roughly translates to ‘all things in moderation.’

13. Speech and social skills campaign to continue to use compliments and kind, positive words, whenever possible. “I am lovin yur red eyes” doesn’t strictly count.

In reality, there are many more, but those were the few that I could think of as I hopped from one spot to another in the waiting room at therapy, whilst herding the troops to remain within the confined space.

So that would be try, try, try again……I suppose?



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Posted on December 12th, 2007.
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34 Comments

  1. mary:
    December 12th, 2007 at 11:40 pm

    I am told that by constantly reinforcing the rules of our house it is good for the kids.

    But is it good for me?

    I can see why some parents just give up.

  2. tlchang:
    December 13th, 2007 at 12:49 am

    One does feel like a tape recorder playing in an endless loop, doesn’t one?

    I must say Maddy, your chronicling of your adventures are so cleverly written that I am always laughing out loud at your wry humor and too-true observations… From tennis rackets to toilet seats…

  3. Marita:
    December 13th, 2007 at 1:13 am

    6. Keep clothing on body, this is not a seasonal rule.

    AMEN!

    Also
    6a. Poo is not paint!

    If she could just keep her clothing on so the nappy is not as easily accessible I would be thrilled.

    Love your blog, been reading along but time for commenting is short.

  4. Elissa:
    December 13th, 2007 at 1:33 am

    We’d like some volume control here too!!!!!
    BTW – Jack is totally fixated on the graphic (animals are kinda an obsession around here – animated moving ones can almost cause a riot of excitement!)
    Hmmm… okay, I think I’m about to do my head in trying to work out the “Mister Linky Thursday Thirteen” thing… perhaps too complicated for my level of technical expertise…
    xx

  5. Veronica:
    December 13th, 2007 at 2:29 am

    Use your words! Not that we have many words, but even pointing is better than squealing, screaming, tantruming.

  6. Casdok:
    December 13th, 2007 at 2:54 am

    Is some one going to help that poor giraffe!

  7. Kelley:
    December 13th, 2007 at 3:23 am

    Oh yes yes and YES!

    Except for the shoes thing. Can’t get him to keep them on anyway :) He strips as he walks in the door. But I will replace it with Marita’s Poo is not paint and add neither is toothpaste.

    I had a wonderful development here today! Boo ate the tiniest piece of cucumber and a sliver of green capsicum (pepper? Not the hot stuff) on the promise of the coveted packet of potato chips. BUT HE ATE IT!!! OMG!!! The whole house was silently jumping up and down with excitement (silently cause if he saw us making a fuss he would never EVER do it again!)

    So are you jealous? *snort* no one else I know gets it, so I have to come to you :)

  8. mel from freak parade:
    December 13th, 2007 at 3:59 am

    Volume control. We need some.

    That one made me laugh out loud….very loudly. Volume control….I need some.

    And when you do get some progress on number 4, please let me know how. 10 years and we’re still working.

  9. No nonsense girl:
    December 13th, 2007 at 4:07 am

    these would be great public announcement rules!!!!

    Have a great thursday!!!! :)

  10. Suzy:
    December 13th, 2007 at 4:49 am

    tlchang just came up with a title for your book-with all that spare time of yours.

    “From Tennis Rackets to Toilet Seats”

    What a great memoir it would be!!!

    Love

    Suzy

  11. beck:
    December 13th, 2007 at 4:56 am

    Many of those sound like things we’re working on with our kids, too….

  12. buffalodickdy:
    December 13th, 2007 at 4:56 am

    Good Grief! Good List! Good Luck!

  13. Mr. Bloggerific Himself:
    December 13th, 2007 at 5:23 am

    13

  14. hammer:
    December 13th, 2007 at 6:30 am

    I need the shoe and sock rule. Thanks for the tip.

  15. Crystal Jigsaw:
    December 13th, 2007 at 6:35 am

    It is the easy option to give up though isn’t it. I think you just have to keep going, sounding like a stuck record most of the time until eventually, the penny drops and hey presto, campaign has reached it’s climax.

    Crystal xx

  16. patois:
    December 13th, 2007 at 7:20 am

    Yes, #6 is a perfect one. I have a child with sensitivity issues, among other issues, and that was a tough one to learn. By the age of 6, though, it worked itself out!

    Thanks for your kind comment about my haiku. Although I do believe you could do it as well!

  17. Marla:
    December 13th, 2007 at 8:12 am

    This is a list I certainly can relate to. I have the shoes on the shelf rule too but never even thought of the socks in the bucket! I am so going to start that one. Maizie always takes her socks off and I have a heck of a time ever finding them again. Or I find her letting the dogs play tug o’ war with them.

  18. furiousball:
    December 13th, 2007 at 8:18 am

    I struggle with #6 a lot, much to my co-worker’s chagrin

  19. Julie Pippert:
    December 13th, 2007 at 9:10 am

    It does me good to see someone see with campaigns 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. (Maybe it would have been easier to write down the ones I don’t have in common). Also good to hear they are ongoing. I have this ridiculous expectation that ultimately after a reasonable period (in my mind, this would be #4 instruction) said campaigns will complete successfully. However, so far, not so good.

    And so #14 campaign is for me to Stop Repeating Myself So Often.

    Julie
    Using My Words

  20. Burfica:
    December 13th, 2007 at 9:10 am

    why do I feel like that giraffe most days?? hehehe

    I can’t teach the husband and son the shoe thing. It’s irritating.

  21. Inthefastlane:
    December 13th, 2007 at 9:52 am

    #4 sounds like a good rule for all. Maybe I can institute that one here at school?

  22. Akelamalu:
    December 13th, 2007 at 10:16 am

    Great 13!

  23. lime:
    December 13th, 2007 at 10:30 am

    i can think of a few adults who would benefit from the application of these tho their own lives…

  24. Karen:
    December 13th, 2007 at 11:22 am

    Okay, now I’m going to ask what is probably a dumb question: Why do the socks and shoes need to come off before entrance into the house?

    I think I must have just given up a long time ago. I remember when Joel and Katie were smaller (up until about 4?)– clothes hardly ever stayed on. Heck, even now, seems as though I see Joel’s boxers as much as I see regular clothes…

    I’m not a very good campaigner, I’m afraid.

  25. liv:
    December 13th, 2007 at 11:35 am

    oh, i relate to so many of these. especially the “sounding” bit. i am so tired of hearing random hoots and groans and stuff. so tired.

  26. kristina:
    December 13th, 2007 at 11:58 am

    The Golden Mean is to be strived for—even if only with moderate success (that’s very good enough for here). Charlie almost tripped o the welcome mat as he ran out to get the bus this morning…..

  27. Judith:
    December 13th, 2007 at 12:55 pm

    Can I just copy and paste your 13? We are living parallel lives on different coasts…

  28. Leanne:
    December 13th, 2007 at 2:43 pm

    Yep, another copy and paste person here. It’s amazing how our campaigns all seem to run in parallel. Can we add teaching him not to say “but mom” 50 times when I’ve said no to something?? *sigh* Can you guess what today has been like?

  29. Susan Helene Gottfried:
    December 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pm

    hang in there, Maddy. You’re doing great. This will all pay off in time. I promise.

    I’m glad to see you Thirteening; hope you get lots of visitors!

  30. meno:
    December 13th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

    And when they get older, it will continue with things like “Make SURE you look left AND right before you pull into traffic.”

  31. kyra:
    December 13th, 2007 at 7:45 pm

    so funny! i relate to many of your thirteen but especially 9. whoa, baby, do i ever!

  32. elasticwaistbandlady:
    December 13th, 2007 at 8:34 pm

    My 6 year old just failed both portions of the speech therapy testing administered to him this morning. :( so your speech stuff resonated with me.

  33. Terry:
    December 14th, 2007 at 8:51 am

    That’s a good 13, I think some of those Society as a whole needs to adopt. The world would be a gentler place.

  34. Kristin:
    December 17th, 2007 at 4:21 am

    Loved this! You have a great way of turning frustration into funny : )

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