This morning we became very curious after seeing Larsen continuously going back and forth between his computer and the place where we keep all the DVDs. We stood behind him while he sat at his computer looking at the DVD and then typing on his keyboard. Come to find out he was doing some sort of DVD inventory on his computer. I’m not sure why he decided that using the “Bookmarks” window was the best way to do this, but maybe he knows something we don’t 
Larsen’s new PJs clearly shows he is with the “in” crowd, wearing shirts that claim to describe the wearer’s personality and/or mood. We are still looking for the “spoiled brat” and “I drive my parents crazy” ones.
He has also “graduated” to using the remote control for his portable DVD player, making the player a very cool entertainment device once again. He loves to navigate through the DVD menus, skip to different chapters, and finds absolutely fascinating all the extras that are normally part of every DVD out there.
Keeping all his DVDs clean it totally a daddy’s job, one that I don’t particularly enjoy anymore after having wiped clean the same DVD for the 100th time. So, thanks to yours-truly, Larsen has learned the art of holding his CDs and DVDs without “touching the shiny part”. I’m so happy!
Up to this point we have not had too much trouble figuring out when and how to discipline Larsen. Recently though, we have encountered one situation where were are unsure if discipline is necessary, or if a little bit of psychology is what is needed.
Lately we have been experiencing way too many “no talking” days, much more than we care to experience or deal with at this point. This “game” has already become very tiring, and it makes a day seem much longer than it should. Our patience is wearing thin, and we are much less tolerant at this point since it also affects our day and what we are able to do together with him. I was looking at this as a choice he was making, one that really wasn’t on the “misbehaving” category thus not requiring discipline. We chose to not respond to any of his pointing and/or grunting of commands, but instead do things we choose to do, only giving him food and drinks of our choice, saying “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand that”, all in hopes of making him realize how much harder things are when he doesn’t talk.
But he is one determined (I call it stubborn) child, and when he makes up his mind about not talking it is a decision that will surely last for the rest of the day. Sometimes he will decide to do it 2-days in a row, which really tests our patience and tolerance. He is so determined that not even the allure of opening a brand new toy (Valentine’s gift in this instance) will make him change his mind. We told him he could only have his gift if he asked for it, but Feb. 14 ended without a word, and so did Feb. 15. He did not get his gift until he talked on Feb. 17. Today is Feb. 18 and we are, once again, having another “no talk” day. Ugh!
So here is our dilemma: do we discipline him for not talking, or do we continue simply ignoring him and try to make life “hard” by choosing not to understand his non-verbal attempts at communicating? It is quite a conundrum, and we are not sure which way to go, if there are other choices we have not yet thought about, or if this is something completely out of our control that we should do our best to ignore until he grows out of it.
Update:
After talking to a few people about it I have come to realize that I should have pointed out that we know for a fact this a “game” and not something to be worried about. Several times during these “no talking” episodes he has slipped and has uttered a sentence or two before realizing he had broken his silence, and in both cases he acted upset/dissapointed by the fact he had done so.
We decided to use his Woobie as the one thing that will be taken away when he doesn’t talk. Woobie spent all of Saturday in a see-through plastic container, where he would remain until words were spoken. At about 2 AM Sunday morning Larsen came into our room and said “I want Woobie”, at which point we gave it back and went back to bed. A conversation was had with Larsen on Sudnay where he told us how he didn’t want Woobie to go back in the box anymore, understanding it was all dependent on him talking or not. We’ll see how well that works.
This morning Larsen wanted to watch an episode of Blue’s Clues, which we always have at hand thanks to our trusty Tivo. This particular episode was about writing, making signs and labels, giving Larsen the idea of making some labels of his own. He asked for paper and crayons, and begged for me to help him make some.
First up were the family labels: Larsen, Mommy and Daddy. These labels took the longest since he decided a different color must be used for every letter, and because I was teaching him to hold the crayon like a writing instrument and not an ice-pick. I was also helping him write the letters in a less than Godzilla-like size.
I then turned him loose on his own, and he was able to crank out several more labels all on his own. Yes, I was very impressed since I never thought he had that much hand control. So out came labels for cat, dog, and cut, followed by wall, house, lamp, water, and hot. All I had to do was hold his paper steady under his crayon. Even though we have yet to master proper placing of the crayon in the the correct writing position, I have no doubt he will quickly adopt it as soon as he realizes how much more control he has using the crayon that way.
Today Larsen has his first knee-scraping-fall outside of the Addison Bed, Bath & Beyond store. Being unusually warm in Dallas, he was wearing shorts as he and Mandi ran out of the store to avoid all the birds that seem to love hanging out on the trees outside. Larsen tripped and fell hard, scraping both knees into a bloody mess.
Not only was Mandi’s heart broken to see Larsen cry for help, but she decided to share the feeling by calling me after they rushed inside the store in search a first-aid kit of some sort. All I could hear while she was telling me his fall was Larsen on the background crying and calling for “mommy.”
This is the part I like the least the parenting experience, but unfortunately something that will undoubtedly happen again and again. It is an unexplainable feeling to see your child hurt and in pain, and not a pleasant one by any stretch of the imagination. But, until next time…
Today we went to our second doctor’s appointment as a result of Larsen’s last doctor’s visit. We had an appointment at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas. Both Mandi and myself were extremely impressed with the place, and were delighted with the doctors that visited with us that day.
Our purpose there was to have Larsen checked to determine if the reason for his tip-toe walking is medical in nature, or just a bad habit. Our pediatrician had already mentioned his tendons seemed to be a bit on the tight side, which may be why he chooses to walk on the tip of his feet. Naturally we were concerned because if that was the case surgery could be the next step, and nobody wants that.
After a few tests and a bit of observation it was determine that even though his tendons are a wee-bit on the tight side, the still can flex his foot enough to be able to walk normally. Seems like this is more a choice rather than the result of some physical limitation, which was a relief to hear. It sure wasn’t a surprise to hear that yet again our son has chosen to do something differently than the norm. Seems like this is a trend we will need to quickly start getting used to and I guess somehow embrace as well …sigh…
From all the possible choice presented to us, stretching exercises for the next 9-months was the next logical step in trying to get him off his tip-toes. Casting and surgery were quickly dismissed since at the moment he has the ability to bend his foot back past 90-degrees, albeit only slightly. Hopefully we can make these simple exercises part of Larsen’s daily routine in hopes of loosening up his tendons enough to make it even easier for him to walk on his heels rather than on his toes.
First, allow me to introduce you to Woobie. Woobie came to us by way of grandma-Judi shortly after Larsen’s birth, and from that point on he and Larsen have been inseparable friends.
Woobie has had a very rough life, and is already showing signs of old age. Turns out that 1 stuffed-bear years is about 20 human years, making Woobie about 80 years old! Early in his life Woobie developed a serious case of cataracts brought upon by the constant nibbling of a teething toddler. The doctors say there is nothing that can be done. He has been through thick-n-thin, surviving numerous visits to the washer and dryer, juice and milk spills, food stains, left behind at the shopping mall, trips to Puerto Rico, sand and sun exposure, traveling in suitcases, dragged through every surface imaginable, thrown, stepped on, sat on, and even peed on! It sure ‘ain’t’ easy being Woobie.
Grandma-Judi had been able to patch-up poor ol’ Woobie’s a few times, but he is now getting to a point where patching is almost impossible. Woobie has been a faithful friend and bed-companion to Larsen, but we just don’t know for how much longer we will get to “enjoy” his company. OK, I’ve got to stop now before I start to cry
Where was I going with this….? Oh, yes…Valentine Woobie! So…for Valentine Larsen decided we needed to decorate Woobie for the occasion, so out came the tub of stickers resulting in the very colorful Woobie you see below.
PS> Whatever you do, never ever ever ever ask Woobie about his skirt. If you do, you best be ready to hear him ramble and go into some long speech about how it is not a skirt, but rather a kilt!
