Since Ellie refused the last day of school, the holidays started early. This was not an issue. Getting up and out the house with three kids, THAT'S an issue!!!
So first day of holidays. Well, it went way better than expected.
I could tell I wasn't going to get much done today because Millie was out of sorts so I asked Ellie to hold her whilst I prepared a monkey platter
After letting the girls know I was taking Millie upstairs to see if she would sleep, the girls pretty much kept themselves busy. Admittedly there was tv involved but there was also lots of other play. Mainly sofa moving and jumping!!
It turned out that Millie was not interested in sleeping and effectively spent the day either crying or pooping.
I am making a conscious effort to keep Millie away from screens because I feel she is too young for them. Ellie was well over two before she started in on tv, it so much easier in those days!! With Maia it was harder because Ellie was already doing it but not as much, she lasted till about 18months. With Millie though, it's really hard. The girls know how to use the computer and work our incredibly way too many buttons tv system so they choose when and where ( unless I have a panic and feel they have been on too much then it all mysteriously stops working - hmm the rain must have affected the Internet!). I oscillate between wanting to be a no screen family to being unschoolers. It's a really difficult one for me.
Anyway I took myself and Millie to the conservatory and basically spent the day in there (or the toilet with a pooping baby).
Once I let go of the idea of being able to do anything because Millie cried whenever I put her down and was NOT interested in being in the manduca, I kind of relaxed!! It rained all day in various strengths and with the door open I was imagining I was in a tent or a caravan. It was really lovely!
The other advantage of staying in he back room was that the girls would leave the lure of the tv and spend time near me. By chance I found the train set in the garage and as it hadn't been out for a while, it was a massive hit. They proceeded to play together with it for the rest of the afternoon.
"I never believed it. I am so excited I have never seen this train set" Maia
Being in such close proximity meant that I was on hand to help Ellie with her impulse control and anger management. I basically had to intercept every time she became upset. Even small upsets are huge for her just now. We tried lots of counting to three and lots of breathing and even suggested a few 'sister circles'. I can see how much she struggles with controlling her anger and me being right there was really helpful for her. Not discounting the fact that it's most likely my modelling that has got her in this situation, it felt right to be 'on her case'. Eventually it all became too much for her and a suggestion of sitting on my knee and reading stories was welcomed with a whimper of relief.
This is how hubby came home to find us. All the girls huddled on the sofa reading.
Has to be a better sight than me huddled in the corner crying my eyes out!
Meltdowns - mostly diverted
Losing the Plot -skilfully avoided
Breastfeeding - fairly constant
Would it be too much to add a pooping tab to my blog?
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