Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors

A few weeks ago, my name was chosen in a raffle for this book. 

 Elijah saw it sitting on the shelf and got upset “That’s mean! That’s rude!” 

“Honey, what’s mean?”

“It’s about me! I’m the only one in the house with behaviors, and my behaviors are getting better”

Ohhh, honey, I won this book, and originally it was to help me with you, but I’m learning about the brain and ALL of you have behaviors, because behaviors literally means “doing something”. 

This kid carries so much guilt about his short life. 

Elijah and his music

 

All of my kids like music, but since Elijah was small, he has had a habit of choosing “unconventional” music at bedtime. As a 5 year old, his body would finally quiet while he drowned himself in the loud, rhythmic, drumming of Twisted Sister, We’re Not Gonna Take It and/or I Wanna Rock. 

Tonight's song choice by Elijah was Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler.

He hasn't asked for any songs for a couple months. As he was settling in, I heard him mumbling, from under his blanket "and I need you more than ever..."

Then…"Mom? Can you put a song on? It says I need you more than ever, it's on the Trolls movie..." I had NO IDEA what song I was looking for so I typed that line into Apple Music. It was the 2nd song option. He got so excited! "That's the one!" We have now explored multiple covers of this song, and he is peacefully sleeping. 

Flexible as a baby

So today started out with the usual stuff. I do gymnastics watch gymnastics and do gymnastics again
And I am really flexible with my back I am a child gymnast and contortionist and I am really flexible because of my scoliosis. Any way here are a few tricks for you 😍 I am also a retired dancer and teach all my skills as a part time job.

Some snack time ingenuity

    It's well known in our circle that Elizabeth has a difficult time with sleep- falling asleep, staying asleep, everything. 

    We finally discovered that a combination of supplements and a set schedule are key. Well, it's summer, the sun is up later, there was VBS to attend, so we've been off our schedule for about 3 weeks. Tonight is the first night working on going back to a routine that we know works. 

At 9:15 I sent this text:

Ellie is still going strong. She requested a snack (I was thinking if I feed her she might sleep). She got peanut butter crackers and toast. She proceeded to use the butter knife to harvest the peanut butter from the crackers to put into her toast, and then put the crackers onto her toast. 

She finally fell asleep at 9:50.

We found another "Elijah Fix"

Daryl was working in the garage and left to go to the gym. When he got home, he discovered a wire cutter in a new location. Upon further investigation he noticed we had a string of Christmas lights we had left out, which is now 4 strings, of non-working lights.

About 6 months ago we discovered that Elijah had "fixed" their little Power Wheels car in a similar manner. 

Choices

"Elijah, why did Mommy put you on time out?"

"Cuz I dumped water on the floor and I stole brother's lollipop."

"What kind of choices were those?" (Expecting "good" or "bad")

"MINE!"

And then I heard....

"Now you cut mine"

Missing tooth

The dentist has told us for a year that he'd lose a tooth "anytime now". 21 days before he turned 5, he lost his first one! And he is so sad about it! 

Batman

    This week is Community Helper Week at Headstart. Isaac's class was discussing what they'd like to be when they grow up. His answer was Batman. His teacher explained that Batman is a fictional character and we need to choose something from real life, but he was not going to be deterred. 

    When I picked him up she explained that he'd had a rough day (in general) and told me this story and that his assignment for the night was to come up with a real job he'd like to do. 

    He fell asleep before we were even out of the parking lot. Then we got busy, so it was bedtime before I talked to him again.

"Isaac, we were supposed to discuss what you'd like to be when you grow up."

He answered "um, Batman." (In a tone that made it clear that he had already made this decision.)

"Why do you want to be Batman?"

"He helps people. And he has a cave!"

I tried from a different angle. 

"Well, you know, no one knows who Batman is, so he doesn't get paid. You always tell me that when you grow up you're going to marry your Honey and have kids. How will you buy them food and clothes if you don't have a job to pay money?"

He thought for a moment and replied, "I want to be Master Bruce."

"Who?"

"You know, Master Bruce, he wears a suit and carries a thing..."

"Briefcase?"

"Yeah, he carries a briefcase, um, he's Bruce Wayne. I want to be Bruce Wayne. Cuz he has a job, and gets paid, and he's Batman and he helps people."

"So you want to be a business man like Bruce Wayne?"

"Yeah, I want to be Bruce Wayne."

And then I gave up 😳

I love her tender heart

While driving through town Isabelle saw a man on the sidewalk with a sign that read, "Hungry, please help." We were headed to Awana at church, I'm the commander, I can't be late, I pretended not to see him. 

As we turn the corner her trembling voice reaches my ears. 

"Mom, I just want to cry."

"Why honey?"

"Because that man is hungry. Can't we go get him something to eat?"

She pauses, "but what if he's just tricking people?"

Again she pauses, "but he might really be hungry! Mom, please?"

So, we turned around and went through the drive through. We got him a triple cheeseburger and a large French fries. He was positioned so that we had to turn right in order to give him the food, she rolled down her window and told him "God loves you", we turned Right, drove down the road, made a U-turn, and as we drove by saw him scarfing down those French fries.

What a humbling and proud moment to witness as a parent!

Focus

I gave Isaac an orange and he wanted to peel it. When I saw him struggle I asked if he needed help. He said "I got it, you just focus on your own task, Mommy, that's making dinner."

His Headstart teacher confirms that he is frequently reminded to focus on his own tasks.

Conversations with Elizabeth-

"Mommy, did Isabelle come out of your tummy?"

"Yes"

"Did Elijah come out of your tummy?"

"No"

"Did Elijah come out of Daddy's tummy?"

Emoticon Language

While sitting in the living room I received this text from Isabelle.

Praying for a spouse

I've been praying with the kids for their future spouses for a couple months. So tonight, I'm praying with Isaac and I say, like every night "please allow Isaac to grow to be the man of God that you want him to be, and his wife to be the woman of God that you want her to be, and please allow them to stay pure for each other" and he interrupts with "Is it Alyssa?" 

"I'll put it on your list"

     Several years ago I began answering requests for items with "I'll put it on your list." 

   "Mom, may I get these Legos?"

   "I'll put it on your list."

   "Mom, I'd like this doll."

   "I'll put it on your list."

You get the picture.

This evening Ellie was taking a bath and yelled out to me "Mom, may I take a shower?"

Isaac responded by going to her and saying "Sissy, I'll put it on your list, k?"

Then came to me "Mom, I put a shower on Sissy's list."

 

Isabelle's Kitchen

My goal for this year has been to allow/force Isabelle to have more cooking and kitchen responsibilities. Today she is helping me prepare for Ellie's birthday party. We will be having a taco bar, so she is dicing onions. 

She's a natural in the kitchen! 

Here she is posing, silly kiddo! 

Gracious Child!

Ellie says "Mom! Look at Lijah!"

I look over to see him playing with blender bottles and potentially making a mess. I say "Elijah!"

Ellie pipes up "Gracious child!"

Baby Jesus

The kids were happily playing with play doh as I fixed dinner. We were discussing things that had gone on in the last couple of days and that it would soon be Christmas. Elizabeth called to me; "Mommy, look! I make Baby Jesus!" 

Since she is not yet 3, I have to admit that I'm quite impressed.

Handprint Bowls

Today Isaac participated in his first homeschool group activity. We made Handprint Bowls. This was the sample:

Isaac put his 4 year old boy flare into it! Note the Hulk Fist and Spiderman web fist. 

Peanut Butter strikes again

As I walked into the boys' room to put laundry away I discovered my very quiet Ellie and Eli tucked between 2 beds. Ellie had a peanut butter jar and a butter knife and I observed her lick it, then dip it in, and then give a lick to her brother. When they noticed me Ellie happily said "hi Mom, the peanut butter's all gone, you needa go to the store and get more."