Bridget E Coffman

On Tue, 27 Nov 2001 08:05:57 -0500 <ElissaJC@...> writes:

> OK, Here is my question (Please be gentle with your answers! LOL)
> Once the above has become a pattern - how does one change it? How does
one
> set the limit yet still maintain respect and teh child autonomy? I
tend to
> have good days (respecting their wishes, everyone cooperating,
watching the
> hunger/anger/lonely/tired thing, modeling behavior and then all of a
sudden
> I realize that there has been some yelling, disrespect etc and I'm not
sure
> what got us there.

I'm not sure this applies to your situation, but with us, we (the
parents) had to learn to remain very calm and quiet no matter what ds was
doing. We had to hold him down physically on occassion to prevent injury
to him or others but the trick was to keep talking in a very quiet voice.
Over time, we've learned to recognize his symptoms sooner and we can
stop the problems before they start often. When we can't the rule of
thumb is to stop the action - take him away from the situation if we can.
Sometimes that means to another room or outside but then we sit him down
and let him talk it out and calm down. But he is an extreme case with
unique circumstances. But I think the answer is in consistency. Always
react calmly but always react the same way.


> Also, the eating issue (I really wish S was here to answer this one)
My two
> year old is down to eating nothing until he gets junk. Would removing
it
> from the house for a period of time help? Might it give him the space
to try
> other healthier foods and realize he likes them? I don't want to be a
food
> controller yet I am starting to become concerned over his eating
habits.
> Yesterday he ate a bowl of rice crispies with milk and then nothing
else! He
> is still nursing so that eases my fear somewhat. I have also thought
about
> not arguing and letting him nurse as much as desired but I am at that
> nursing stage where it is starting to get a little irritating
physically as
> my cycle ebbs and flows (pun intended LOL)
> Elissa
>
>

1. I don't consider rice crispies junk.
2. My girls nursed for 3 years and ate very little until they were 3, I
would not worry in your place.
3. If she is healthy and growing don't worry!!!

Bridget
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it
goes on.
- Robert Frost