So remember how yesterday was a great start at preschool? Yeah, today, not so much. I didn't follow my own advice and take the preventative ibuprofen, and boy do I regret it. I should have worn my pedometer too, because I do believe it was at least a 4 miler day, if not close to a 5. I was on the run like nobody's business. I used to wear it to preschool just to see what I was clocking, and I can tell by how sore my feet are, that it was close to that. I am about to crash and burn.
I had screamers for half the day and then I departed for the land of Pre-K. But I did learn a new trick today. One of our best and most experienced teachers had some advice that I hadn't learned before and I was astounded it worked. She said one particular child was throwing a fit based on a control issue, not mommy separation anxiety. And you could tell the difference - it was anger. You can take anything this teacher says about children to the bank, so I did it and lo and behold it worked! When the child was screeching as loudly as humanly possible, I said in a "I mean it voice" NO, No Screaming! If I said NO sharply and then turned away from the temper tantrum then the crying would stop. We could even discuss the reason for the tears. Then I praised, hugged, etc. Unfortunately, it seemed to be a never-ending cycle. I don't know if we could've made more headway if I didn't have other responsibilities and could have stayed with the child the whole day or not. There was a time when we sat together during recess and we hung out on the pillows, talked some, and there was no crying for a good 25 minutes. I even gained a one yr old who decided I had just enough room on my lap for her too. That was heaven.
I had screamers for half the day and then I departed for the land of Pre-K. But I did learn a new trick today. One of our best and most experienced teachers had some advice that I hadn't learned before and I was astounded it worked. She said one particular child was throwing a fit based on a control issue, not mommy separation anxiety. And you could tell the difference - it was anger. You can take anything this teacher says about children to the bank, so I did it and lo and behold it worked! When the child was screeching as loudly as humanly possible, I said in a "I mean it voice" NO, No Screaming! If I said NO sharply and then turned away from the temper tantrum then the crying would stop. We could even discuss the reason for the tears. Then I praised, hugged, etc. Unfortunately, it seemed to be a never-ending cycle. I don't know if we could've made more headway if I didn't have other responsibilities and could have stayed with the child the whole day or not. There was a time when we sat together during recess and we hung out on the pillows, talked some, and there was no crying for a good 25 minutes. I even gained a one yr old who decided I had just enough room on my lap for her too. That was heaven.
It didn't last long because I had to go to music classes with each of the Pre-K's. An hour on the playground pushing kids in the tire swing simulating a rocket lift-off and outer space exploration, complete with asteroid belt collisions, in 90 degrees heat sealed my fate. I have such a huge headache now. I'm gonna keep myself awake long enough to go to the chiropractor and then I'm passing out. I'm so glad I don't have preschool tomorrow.
