the last couple of days (weeks, for that matter) have been extremely difficult in regards to parker's behavior and emotions. two nights ago she threw such an incredible tantrum at bedtime that i was in tears by the middle of it. she went into a hysterical rage where she screamed until her voice was raw (and her brother was awake), got out of bed dozens of times, and flailed around, desperate for something she could not really name and i could not intuit. the whole ordeal lasted almost two hours before she gave up and went to sleep.
last night it happened again and i wound up calling ina (her therapist) because i just didn't know what to do. responding to her screams and physical attacks only made things worse but i don't believe in letting kids 'cry it out.' but i REALLY don't believe in hitting kids or responding to them out of anger so i basically needed professional permission to barricade myself into the bedroom and calm myself down. ina assured me that that was perfectly okay to move lorenzo into my room (so as not to have him woken up again (too late)) and let her work things out on her own. she said that the alternative was to wrap her tightly in a blanket and hold her while she cried, so that she wouldn't hurt herself or me. after two nights of this i couldn't face much more than calm(ish) reassurances from the other side of my bedroom door; it didn't last quite as long as the night before...
parker has been a challenge to me as a parent. she makes me question whether i know what the hell i'm doing.
brb
last night it happened again and i wound up calling ina (her therapist) because i just didn't know what to do. responding to her screams and physical attacks only made things worse but i don't believe in letting kids 'cry it out.' but i REALLY don't believe in hitting kids or responding to them out of anger so i basically needed professional permission to barricade myself into the bedroom and calm myself down. ina assured me that that was perfectly okay to move lorenzo into my room (so as not to have him woken up again (too late)) and let her work things out on her own. she said that the alternative was to wrap her tightly in a blanket and hold her while she cried, so that she wouldn't hurt herself or me. after two nights of this i couldn't face much more than calm(ish) reassurances from the other side of my bedroom door; it didn't last quite as long as the night before...
parker has been a challenge to me as a parent. she makes me question whether i know what the hell i'm doing.
brb