Comments on: and still, I have no real point http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/ entirely true, but exaggerated for comic effect Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:21:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Mary Tsao http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3286 Mary Tsao Mon, 03 Apr 2006 22:56:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3286 You're an amazing mother! I understand completely the idea of "me" time and even though I do have somebody babysitting my kids two days a week, it still doesn't seem to be enough and that makes me sad.<br/><br/>You were right in that post your wrote about the mommy wars; parenting is the hard part. It's only every other day that I feel like I'm doing this job even half as well as I've done my previous 9-5 jobs.<br/><br/>I need my own social story, laminated and illustrated. One that explains how I'm supposed to control my temper and mother two small children with kindness and a quiet (inside) voice.<br/><br/>Hope you get your me time soon, I really do. You deserve it. You’re an amazing mother! I understand completely the idea of “me” time and even though I do have somebody babysitting my kids two days a week, it still doesn’t seem to be enough and that makes me sad.

You were right in that post your wrote about the mommy wars; parenting is the hard part. It’s only every other day that I feel like I’m doing this job even half as well as I’ve done my previous 9-5 jobs.

I need my own social story, laminated and illustrated. One that explains how I’m supposed to control my temper and mother two small children with kindness and a quiet (inside) voice.

Hope you get your me time soon, I really do. You deserve it.

]]> By: marti http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3273 marti Sun, 02 Apr 2006 03:25:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3273 Susan. I have been where you are, precisely where you are, but without a 2nd child. If I had had Charlie, I think I would have been even more depressed about looking to the future because Charlie is so very typical. Please do not despair. I know what you are saying about therapy, me time, the frustration with looking at Henry and seeing the "tricky" stuff. I know, I know, and I know. My best advice is not to get a sitter. It is to get into some serious RDI therapy with Henry ... social stories are FANTASTIC for isolating some things (we used one for why Child should use a kleenex and not wipe the gross boogers on his sleeve). RDIconnect.com ... get the book about the program, then the activity book. Yes, it is more work, but it is the BEST thing out there for really, really integrating the social awareness and ability to connect in experience sharing ways with others that our little ones do not have hard-wired into their brains. Call me if you want more info. And, call me if you need someone to talk with who has been PRECISELY where you are.<br/><br/>And, please have hope. You are amazing and smart and will pull off your right arm for Henry. Time gets tight, and we get tired, but you are amazing and he will do so well BECAUSE OF YOU. Susan. I have been where you are, precisely where you are, but without a 2nd child. If I had had Charlie, I think I would have been even more depressed about looking to the future because Charlie is so very typical. Please do not despair. I know what you are saying about therapy, me time, the frustration with looking at Henry and seeing the “tricky” stuff. I know, I know, and I know. My best advice is not to get a sitter. It is to get into some serious RDI therapy with Henry … social stories are FANTASTIC for isolating some things (we used one for why Child should use a kleenex and not wipe the gross boogers on his sleeve). RDIconnect.com … get the book about the program, then the activity book. Yes, it is more work, but it is the BEST thing out there for really, really integrating the social awareness and ability to connect in experience sharing ways with others that our little ones do not have hard-wired into their brains. Call me if you want more info. And, call me if you need someone to talk with who has been PRECISELY where you are.

And, please have hope. You are amazing and smart and will pull off your right arm for Henry. Time gets tight, and we get tired, but you are amazing and he will do so well BECAUSE OF YOU.

]]> By: Kristen http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3243 Kristen Fri, 31 Mar 2006 02:55:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3243 Your description of Henry's behavior and the therapist's response has me a little freaked. Bryce does all of that; you know how I'm always calling him high maintenance and intense? That's what I'm referring to. And how I've said I haven't sought out a diagnosis of anything for him yet? I'm re-thinking that. <br/><br/>I truly do not know how to suggest a me time solution for you. But I AM going to buy you a glass of wine the next time I'm in OKC. Your description of Henry’s behavior and the therapist’s response has me a little freaked. Bryce does all of that; you know how I’m always calling him high maintenance and intense? That’s what I’m referring to. And how I’ve said I haven’t sought out a diagnosis of anything for him yet? I’m re-thinking that.

I truly do not know how to suggest a me time solution for you. But I AM going to buy you a glass of wine the next time I’m in OKC.

]]> By: Candace http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3242 Candace Thu, 30 Mar 2006 23:30:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3242 My God, the resemblance of Henry to Christopher just astounds me sometimes. <br/><br/>We had to have another talk the other day about not spending so much time setting up *insert name of imaginative play game here* so he would actually have time to play said game. And the pushing and the jumping. Yeah, I've been through all that, too.<br/><br/>Hang in there. I'm pretty sure that things will get better for you the way they got better for us. My God, the resemblance of Henry to Christopher just astounds me sometimes.

We had to have another talk the other day about not spending so much time setting up *insert name of imaginative play game here* so he would actually have time to play said game. And the pushing and the jumping. Yeah, I’ve been through all that, too.

Hang in there. I’m pretty sure that things will get better for you the way they got better for us.

]]> By: Homestead http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3241 Homestead Thu, 30 Mar 2006 23:10:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3241 What Mary P. said. When I was in college we had "host" families if we were from out-of-town. My host mama traded me cash & pizza to take her son out in the jogger stroller for about 3 hours ever week. I jogged/walked and called it exercise, fed him sticky treats at the park for about an hour and then walked home. That mama used me to network and get all of my sane and reliable friends hooked up with all her mama friends so everyone got pizza and happiness. What Mary P. said. When I was in college we had “host” families if we were from out-of-town. My host mama traded me cash & pizza to take her son out in the jogger stroller for about 3 hours ever week. I jogged/walked and called it exercise, fed him sticky treats at the park for about an hour and then walked home. That mama used me to network and get all of my sane and reliable friends hooked up with all her mama friends so everyone got pizza and happiness.

]]> By: Mary P. http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3240 Mary P. Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:42:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/and-still-i-have-no-real-point/#comment-3240 Is there a community college in your city? We have different terms for our institutions, I think for you it's a "junior college", but I could be wrong. You know, the place that trains for trades more than professions.<br/><br/>If there is, perhaps you could hire a student in an ECE course (or something related - or, heck, maybe auto mechanics, if Henry would like it!) to play with the boys for three hours a week or so - three hours which you are NOT to fill doing errands!<br/><br/>The student would be older than a high school student, eager for some work experience, and available during the days.<br/><br/>I've done this with the daycare from time to time, and it's been a real sanity-saver. Is there a community college in your city? We have different terms for our institutions, I think for you it’s a “junior college”, but I could be wrong. You know, the place that trains for trades more than professions.

If there is, perhaps you could hire a student in an ECE course (or something related - or, heck, maybe auto mechanics, if Henry would like it!) to play with the boys for three hours a week or so - three hours which you are NOT to fill doing errands!

The student would be older than a high school student, eager for some work experience, and available during the days.

I’ve done this with the daycare from time to time, and it’s been a real sanity-saver.

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