Thursday, November 29, 2012

Today is Thursday. This morning I told Toby I needed to violate DNSN, since he hadn't brushed his teeth since Monday evening. He said, "Really?" I didn't have to say anything else. Our previous arrangement had been that if he missed 3 times in 7 days (3 out of 14 times expected), then he would have to brush at least 11 out of 14 times for two weeks in a row to earn back dessert. I guess without that looming over him, he has not been so vigilant. And I have not been reminding him. Today both kids had their annual physical appointments. All went beautifully until flu shots at the end, even the fingerstick iron check went easily for both. However, Hazel started crying in anticipation before the nurse even came into the room. Toby wanted me to get her out of there so he could get his shot in peace - which also meant alone, for the first time. He went through with it with just a little hesitation, got teary but faced everything with a lot of courage. Hazel HOWLED, and had resurgences of crying with various body pains (arms, hands, mouth, eyes) intermittently over the next two hours. I offered her several remedies and lots of hugs, but watching TV seemed to be the only thing that distracted her from her complaints. All that crying just exhausts me. I am learning to trust Hazel about getting herself ready in the morning, although she does everything last minute which makes me super anxious. She has made her lunch in the morning just a few minutes before needing to leave, each day this week. I am hoping that all this doing-for-herself continues after DNSN ends.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Toby has not brushed his teeth since Monday evening. He did get them cleaned at the dentist yesterday though! He has also not eaten any breakfast since we started DNSN - which would normally not be much of a big deal, but he is under doctor's orders to eat breakfast every day as well as a bedtime snack for being underweight/slow-growing, and he knows this very well. He seems to really need parental pushing to eat in the morning, he says he doesn't ever really feel hungry. Since it is a medical concern, we have decided that he can not determine this issue himself. We will see at the end of the week how much weight he has lost. This morning, Hazel started saying, "I don't want to go to school..." I was already prepared for her to miss the bus, since she never brought her backpack in from the car yesterday and therefore did not make any lunch. When it was time for the bus, Toby noticed the clock and jumped up and left. Hazel asked if I could drive her since she hadn't brushed her teeth yet (nor had any underwear on under her dress, nor had made lunch). I said I could if it was before I had to leave for my class (in an hour and a half). I was gearing myself up for if she decided not to go - but after her brother left, she seemed to get on the ball and did all her stuff. She was only about 15 minutes late. Her toys are spreading throughout the house more and more. She took out her ballet shoes to practice her dance routine, and to get them she had to pull her leotard and tights out of the bag as well. They have been on the floor under the diningroom table for 2 days. She needs to wear them for her recital so I hope they don't get too visibly stained from anything that drops down there. I lured Hazel into the bath tonight by getting in and inviting her to join me. She only allowed soap on her feet for a foot massage though, nowhere else. Toby is not only happy to avoid a bath, he has been wearing the same clothes nonstop for the past 3 days. I am also noticing how much of a conscious effort I have to make to NOT clean up after everyone. I usually just scoop things up as I move throughout the house in my own acitvities. I have had to put things back a couple of times, after deciding I shouldn't be cleaning it up for someone else. So we're about half-way through our week and the house is becoming hard for me to bear - I am running out of places to hide for serenity, places that are not a disaster. I am starting to brainstorm creative group cleanup strategies for Saturday!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Pros: dinner dishes cleared, more or less appropriate amount of dessert consumed, both kids on time for the bus two days in a row, remembered to make and bring healthy lunches - and backpacks, one child with teeth brushed both mornings, both children dressed appropriately for the weather (snow), both children to sleep before 10 p.m. both nights with teeth brushed, daughter wore a pull-up both nights, homework done! Cons: one child with teeth not brushed this morning, chocolate milk left on table for 24 hours, toys strewn across the floor in family room/kitchen/hallway/daughter's room/our room, a few extra hours of video games, no contributions done One big difference this time around seems to be very little food mess. Son is much better at making his lunch, daughter only packs easy things that don't require preparation (yogurt, fruit cup, etc), and dinner dishes into dishwasher is my contribution this month, so they aren't piling up. Things are going well, they are doing a really good job of being self-sufficient about school. The big issue seems to be toys all over this time, almost all daughter.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Do Nothing, Say Nothing, 2012

Day 1: they each ate a very healthy dinner, cleared their dishes, and ate only a little more dessert than usual. Extensive Wii usage.