This has been on my mind alot the last day and a half. I am currently handling the homefront solo this week while H is away on business. He left on Monday for the airport and returned that night after his flight to meet his connection was cancelled. Then he left again on Tuesday - and finally made it! But the away and return was quite devastating to A. Daddy went away and returned only to go away again. Try explaining a cancelled flight to a 3 year old…so I went down the “the plane was broken” path. It seemed to work - probably because A is actually a pretty well travelled kid for his age and has experienced the flight delays, the board and de-board scenario, etc.
But then Wednesday morning was an absolute bear with A. The routine was out of whack and the meltdowns were at an all time high. Very frustrating for me. But I have learned that at some point in all of this, I need to whip out the “threats” of him losing the things that matter most to him (and they change weekly, sometimes daily). Right now it is: Peter Pan movie, a stack of Star Wars playing cards that he calls “the Uglies” (the monster characters that he sees in the movies…but currently Ewan MacGregor Obi Wan is in the pile which worries me), cars from Cars movie, blue lightsaber. So it is up to me to be nimble enough to pull out of my brain what is most important THAT MOMENT to persuade him to listen and do what needs to be done. It’s stressful, but it is also a part of knowing A!
This morning I was thinking more on this and realizing - surprise - that this is also something that I do at work in dealing with people. Trying to know someone well enough to keep them happy by knowing what they want and getting them to help me do what I need done - not always easy…occassionally it is easier than dealing with my 3 year old…
