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| Author |
Message |
kami
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the parents' whining item
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Mar 24 20:17 UTC 1994 |
"If the baby gets into the cat-dish one more time..." This is the item for
venting your spleen about stuff kids do- solutions welcome. No final ones,
please.
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| 33 responses total. |
vidar
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response 1 of 33:
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Mar 24 20:44 UTC 1994 |
Does that mean nothing fatal allowed?
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davel
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response 2 of 33:
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Mar 24 21:46 UTC 1994 |
I think that's the general idea.
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vidar
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response 3 of 33:
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Mar 25 02:49 UTC 1994 |
Duh.
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davel
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response 4 of 33:
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Mar 25 12:00 UTC 1994 |
Well, ask a stupid question ...
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vidar
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response 5 of 33:
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Mar 25 20:38 UTC 1994 |
Yea, Yea, I know... I know...
You don't need to rub it in like a stupid asshole.
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kami
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response 6 of 33:
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Mar 26 05:25 UTC 1994 |
on the other hand, the occasional fantasy of tossing the baby out the window
while snarling; "I'll give you something to cry about" may be a lovely safety
valve >:}
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vidar
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response 7 of 33:
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Mar 26 14:34 UTC 1994 |
I really shouldn't respond to this item since it is directed towards
parents. But... Nah... What I was about to say belongs in the Gen X
conference, in item 12.
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gracel
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response 8 of 33:
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Mar 27 20:51 UTC 1994 |
Is this item for problems, or solutions? Or both? I.e., do
you want to hear about the history with the cat-dish, or about the
interesting future being projected for the child as a consequence?
We have this child who *will* not stop talking (unless a "stranger"
is looking at him, who might be tempted to say "Does he ever talk?")
but I have no creative solutions, when I really can't stand it any
more I shut myself into another room and put my fingers in my ears
for a while.
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davel
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response 9 of 33:
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Mar 27 21:55 UTC 1994 |
(Grace is talking about an almost-4-year-old, not a teenager or something,
in the foregoing.)
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popcorn
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response 10 of 33:
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Mar 27 22:30 UTC 1994 |
This response has been erased.
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davel
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response 11 of 33:
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Mar 28 13:07 UTC 1994 |
They don't keep very well. After an hour or so they spoil and become
friends, and on comes the tap. (Sometimes 5 minutes or so.)
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kami
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response 12 of 33:
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Mar 28 18:31 UTC 1994 |
rotfl!
The best response to venting frustration I can think of is "I'll help". Barring
that, solutions or questions are always welcome.
Timothy never shuts up either. Sometimes I just tell him I've had it and need
a break from his questions, then crank up the radio a bit. It seems to work
long enough to calm me down. If I'm feeling more energetic I'll try to steer
the conversation in a direction that is more interesting/creative so at least
I'm not being dragged around by a 4 year old.
Strangers don't work for us- to Timothy there are no strangers: just fans he
hasn't captivated yet. :)
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davel
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response 13 of 33:
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Mar 28 21:59 UTC 1994 |
Kami, that was 100% serious, I'm afraid.
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kami
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response 14 of 33:
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Mar 29 17:35 UTC 1994 |
I know. It's still funny.
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kami
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response 15 of 33:
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Apr 6 05:05 UTC 1994 |
I just (a few hours ago) got back from Meijers. I was almost tempted to LET
the little rat fall on his head after the umpteen ba-zillionth time I pulled
him back to a sitting position inthe front of the cart, scolded him (harshly)
and he LAUGHED! That kid may not live to grow up... Tim did pretty well,
though. I think he knows when it would be in his better interests NOT to
push my buttons... Well, they look so sweet when they're sleeping, I think
I'll let them live yet again. :)
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carl
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response 16 of 33:
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Apr 6 22:36 UTC 1994 |
I just read this item and wondered about the child in #8 that talks
non-stop. Have you tried setting aside 15 minutes a day (or 10
minutes twice a day) when you will listen with 100% of your attention
on your child? If you explain this first then do it consistantly,
you may find that your child gets bored talking to you when you're
not listening. Of course this would work after he knows what you're
like when you are listening, and when he knows that there will be
a time soon when you will listen.
Disclaimer: I don't have kids. Beats me whether or not it will work.
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davel
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response 17 of 33:
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Apr 7 01:25 UTC 1994 |
Interesting idea, Carl.
(A friend once told me: you spend two years teaching them to walk and talk,
and the rest of your life trying to teach them to sit down and shut up.
I now know what he meant.)
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kami
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response 18 of 33:
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Apr 7 19:39 UTC 1994 |
Carl, the immediate response to the technique mentioned in #16 is likely to
be the most silence heard in 3 years. the subsequent response is likely to
be a passionate demand for 24 hours of similar attention... They know a good
thing when they have it. And they don't do moderation. Soon means NOW.
But it is a good idea anyway...
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gracel
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response 19 of 33:
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Apr 8 19:36 UTC 1994 |
It might work with a 6 or 7-year-old. With my three-year-olds,
no. Interesting difference in individuals: Jonathan went through a
stage about like this. With him, I could say "BE QUIET for 3 minutes
[or whenever] until the timer goes off, or [undesired consequence]."
He got the point quickly, and after a brief period of silence I had
more patience for dealing with chatter. Too often, Paul just doesn't
seem to be able to do that -- at best, if I get his attention by
covering his mouth and speaking in moderate tones, close to his ear,
he figures out that Mommy needs a break, & he'll go & chatter in the next
room for the specified amount of time (and of course want to set the timer
himself, later). He also seems to want *me* to talk as much as he wants to
talk himself, which is maddening when I'm trying to eat. (This too
will pass)
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vidar
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response 20 of 33:
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Apr 8 20:32 UTC 1994 |
Is this linked to enigma?
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kami
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response 21 of 33:
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Apr 10 02:17 UTC 1994 |
vidar, do you think it should be linked to enigma? why or why not?
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vidar
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response 22 of 33:
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Apr 12 01:09 UTC 1994 |
Not really. But in repose to why: see Re#19/
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gracel
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response 23 of 33:
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Apr 14 00:38 UTC 1994 |
Re #20: Each child is, like Russia, "a riddle wrapped in a
mystery inside an enigma." Is that the connection, O enigmatic Vidar?
In any case, "know your child" is the only hope for a real
solution. (And those who saw him at a parenting class for 2 hours on
Monday morning would not recognize him from my description!)
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vidar
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response 24 of 33:
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Apr 14 01:13 UTC 1994 |
Great. I think I'll become a communist now. No, it's not from this.
I'm reading _the Grapes of Wrath_ in American Literature.
Damn, ttyh2 is still broken!
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