I'm not at my best without a full night's sleep. Like yesterday, for example. After having an awesome time at the Stereolab show, I got not quite enough sleep and was a little off my game all day, not observant enough nor moving fast enough.
As I was getting the kids buckled into the car to go home from school, with Thea reciting a poem she learned that day, Liam noticed the toys he has thrown in the ashtray in the door right by his seat over the last two years. Only he lost the ashtray part long ago, so really it's just a small, deep, oddly shaped hole filled with toys and with a little door over it.
You know where this is going, I'm sure. He reached down to retrieve a toy and got his hand stuck. He panicked, unable to get his hand out and with metal digging into his skin, and started wailing. I kept saying, "Liam, open your hand! Open your hand, honey, and get your hand out!" while Thea continued to recite her poem about the five senses, a little louder to make herself heard over the din.
At this point, I have to admit, I started to lose my shit a little. I couldn't convince Liam to open his hand, I couldn't even calm him down, and I couldn't make the hole bigger. I looked over at Thea and said, "We need Liam to open his hand. Can you help?" She nodded, turned to him, and said in a clear voice, "Liam, look at my hand. Do this," and she opened her hand.
I had been saying this for two minutes, but somehow coming from his big sister, it made sense. He immediately released the toy, pulled his hand out, and accepted a hug from Thea, who said "Oh, your poor hand, that looks like that hurt," while looking at me and shaking her head.
I'm glad one of us was able to keep her head in a (very small, but rather traumatic) crisis.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Big sisters are super heroes
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17 comments:
What a little sweetie!
Maybe she'll be an emergency room physician one day!
She is a hero!
I gave a suggestion years ago to a friend of mine about a crisis her child was experiencing..."maybe he should pack a lunch" and she thought I was crazy. She went home and after hours of trying to problem solve with her son out of frustration asked if packing a lunch would help...he said YES! Problem solved...since then when ever I give her basic advice she says..."of course, pack a lunch"!
Your daughters calm advice reminded me of this story!
That is SO COOL.
Your kids are teh awesome.
How adorable. I do know that big sisters are in fact superheroes (being a big sister myself and also having a daughter who also happens to be a big sister). I love the picture! They look just overflowing with happiness.
totally adorable photos! And what a sweet story. I wouldn't have thought to use my own hand as an example. Sometimes kids just know the obvious so intuitively.
oops, that prev. anon one was me, forgot to type in my name.
Nobody understands better than a sibling! I keep thinking, this is why we didn't stop at one. Success.
i don't know if she looks cuter mugging for the camera or if he looks cuter staring adoringly @ her. i can't decide! they're both the mostest!
Aw that post made me tear up a little. Geting the verbal account right after the event wasn't nearly as powerful. Thank the dogs for blogs!
Aw, thanks, guys! And thanks also for not commenting on my typos and grammar mistakes. I have got to catch up on my sleep.
Brilliant!
Sounds like time for a new maxim:
And the moral of the story is - if you don't seem to be getting through to your child, ask the sibling for help.
Or something like that. I wonder if it would work on other relationships....
I love the part when she looks at you and shakes her head like you two are in this together. You and Thea, teaching Liam the wonders of the world.
How sweet is Thea?
That's so cute. I swear. The pic is so adorable. They look so much like you and Toddie.
Such beauties!
Big sisters rock... when they aren't tormenting you that is. :)
awwwww. just getting to this after being out of town for awhile. sometimes, it's so hard for us grownups to think like a kid.
what a fantastic big sister :-)
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