All week I have been thinking of things to blog about, funny stories about the boys and things I need to write down and I had a pretty long mental list. But here I am now, boys in bed, house mostly clean and mind completely blank. Thank heavens for you that I took my camera outside after dinner and took some cute pictures of the boys because I know that is the most redeeming quality of my blogging--and the most anticipated thing by distant and picture hungry grandparents. But for those of you who come to this blog for a bit of wit and levity, you will have to wait for a little bit longer until the dad can return to his "funny and a little inappropriate story writing" duties. As with most dads we know, he has too many other not quite as fun duties but he should be able to type a funny one again soon.
Calvin Mackay:
This little blond bombshell will be 2 one week from today and his wits and determination are as long and crazy as his hair. He is talking and understanding more and more and has quite the little personality. He has a funny sense of humor and sometimes laughs at less obvious and less appropriate things, much like his father. He loves his older brother and is often heard running around the house saying, "Biggie, are you?"
Calvin was a pretty good and mild mannered baby and I was a little worried that his dominant and strong willed older brother would walk all over him. But that mild mannered baby became a toddler and Calvin has enough guts and fight in him to hold his own with anyone, least of all his older brother. Good thing I worried so much about it.
Brigham goes to preschool one day a week and it has been very fun for me to have that time to give Calvin my undivided attention. We run errands, play with trains, read lots of stories, and pretty much just hang out together. As much as I would have thought that Calvin would have liked having full run of the toys, he really spends much of his time looking for his brother or following me around. When we go to pick Brigham up from school, Calvin Mackay bolts up the stairs and into Brig's classroom, calling for his brother the entire time. They then spend a few moments in the most tender and heart melting embrace and are genuinely excited to see each other again. I don't usually appreciate this show of affection quite as much as other onlookers because I know that 5 minutes from that moment they will be fighting and screaming at each other in the car, but at least there are glimpses of mutual brotherly love.
Brigham Golden:
Brigham is still the biggest ball of energy and life. He is enjoying his school and doing well with the other kids and teachers. One day last week, I picked Brigham up from a babysitting room at a local church where I attend bi-monthly MOPS meetings (Mothers of Preschoolers). When I picked him up, the teacher said, "He was the best one in here today." It was a silly thing but I was really excited about it. I feel like I am pretty hard on him because he is such a strong willed toddler and it was wonderful to have something to celebrate with him the rest of the day.
As part of our disciplining we utilize quite a few Love and Logic (Jim Fay and Foster Cline) strategies. One of the strategies we are using right now with Brigham is that of the "energy drain." When he does not listen (or something else) I tell him that I don't have any more energy to do something fun and he needs to find a way to give me energy back (hug, say nice things, help pick up, etc.). That might sound crazy but it is actually quite effective to stop the less desired behavior and help make a connection between appropriate behavior and getting what you want.
Brigham is hilarious because he has figured out the energy drain and now turns it around on me. When he is upset with me because I have not allowed him to have his way he will say, "I am all out of energy. You need to give me some energy back." I ask him what I need to do to boost his energy and we usually end up in a much needed hug. It just amazes me when my young little Brigham begins to understand adult concepts and then turns them around on me. Little stinker.
And now the mind is blank again. Have a good week.
2 comments:
Your boys couldn't be any cuter. And you are an amazing mother--with your beautifully executed L&L techniques. You must be doing lots of things right to have those two hugging after their couple-hour separation. So sweet.
Good for you to spend one-on-one time with Mackay during preschool. His wispy curls are precious, and he looks so much like his bombshell mom.
My kids do the same thing when we pick up Pearce from Preschool. They give the biggest hugs, as they have truly missed each other and then we get in the car and they start fighting ASAP. Its such a roller coaster!
Post a Comment