When the Natural Consequence Is Far-Reaching or Worse for Me - Page 3

[hakeber]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie

Rebekah-- No. He's military. Rarely here for those moments, and he often reverts to how he remembers being raised, which is orders and ridiculous threats that cannot be implemented. He is trying to improve and he certainly does some of it but I can't depend on that as a strategy.

I thought that's what it was...I guess I was just hoping he might be able to do it before he had to leave the house...like 5am or something. That sucks. It must be so overhwleming to never be able to share that load (or never want to because he shouts and rants.) Don't take that in a condescending way, I really sincerely mean it. I would NOT be able to handle your situation alone. I'd be a ticking time bomb.

Although that would lead to unbelievable cuteness, it would not help time-wise, LOL! Sometimes we do that with jammies. It is really, really cute how she helps her sister.

"No, no, baby, I said head. Those are your cute little baby feet. Put it over your head. Here, I'll help..." Mayhem ensues as baby gets jammies stuck on head and tries to find self, big sister runs off to get a screwdriver to undo buttons for dramatic effect, baby is toddling around like a fool with no face, etc.

I can only imagine the chaos. Cute but chaos.

[EdnaMarie]

Rebekah, no, I understand what you mean and yes, it does suck! I hate not having a partner in this stuff. It is so unfair because I married a salary man only to find out that my kids' father was dreaming of having his own business and a workaholic to boot, then joined the military. I feel like if he had only told me that he planned on working 24/7 and stuff, I would have backed off, but here we are.

But that, my friend, is a different post.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie 

And silly idea here, since she might be socially motivated, could you have her show dd2 how clothes go on (while you get yourself dressed) and then she helps you get dd2's clothes on?

Although that would lead to unbelievable cuteness, it would not help time-wise, LOL! Sometimes we do that with jammies. It is really, really cute how she helps her sister.

"No, no, baby, I said head. Those are your cute little baby feet. Put it over your head. Here, I'll help..." Mayhem ensues as baby gets jammies stuck on head and tries to find self, big sister runs off to get a screwdriver to undo buttons for dramatic effect, baby is toddling around like a fool with no face, etc.

(can't find rotflmao smiley)  That is actually really cool, I only have a 2 year old, so I didn't realize a 4 year old might be able to help that much. I was thinking more like your DD1 would put on her OWN clothes while DD2 watches and then DD1 could hand you DD2's clothes as needed.

Something else that might help, my dd is going through a "pretend baby" phase and I get her dressed by using really exaggerated baby talk like I never used when she really was a baby. I actually imitate how 6 years talk to her "hello cute little baby, do you need your clothesies on? Gimme your widdle baby foots!" It seems to result in more cooperation for getting dressed when she wants me to get her dressed. So we're done in <5 minutes instead of chasing around for 15+.

[EdnaMarie]

Oh, SC, if only I could stomach it... I do it at times but then she starts in with the baby talk and even drools and it's gross.  Gross, I tell you.  I let her have her moments, I really do, but on a daily basis I just couldn't take it, LOL!

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie 

Oh, SC, if only I could stomach it... I do it at times but then she starts in with the baby talk and even drools and it's gross.  Gross, I tell you.  I let her have her moments, I really do, but on a daily basis I just couldn't take it, LOL!

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Er sorry, I was just thinking back to the days when dd would slime my knee so much she'd slide off as she was gumming away. *shudder* Thank goodness her pretend play is simply not that advanced yet.
 

[EdnaMarie]

Oh, that is awful.  DD was never much of a drooler, is the thing, so it's doubly gross.  I keep explaining: "It's cute when babies do baby things.  It's cute when YOU do four-year-old things.  What would a cute four-year-old do right now?"  That works so I don't want to play up the baby thing.

FWIW, me doing it is going great. I am okay with her "do it sewf!" phase being just a phase and it being the new normal for me to buckle and dress her in the morning. So naturally half the time she does it herself without a fuss now. LOL! So that was great advice ladies. <3 That is supposed to be a heart. I am still figuring out the new forum, can't deal with smileys.  

[llwr]

I haven't read all the replies.

My 3.5 DD is also a dawdler.  It has helped us a lot for her to race her little sister (13 mos).  It took a while to catch on, but now she's super-fast dressing and getting in the car seat -- even starting the buckles herself.  (I always check and tighten them).   But if she doesn't win (usually not a problem), she screams and screams.   So I usually let her win.

I know it's really hard to be waiting on a dawdler when there's so many other things to do.  And I would never know if helping would get it done or just cause a tantrum!  Or she would say she wanted help but it was really hard to give while taking care of the baby as well. 

[EdnaMarie]

Wait, are you me?

Racing works but she freaks out if she loses, and sometimes, she dawdles so much she's bound to do.  We still use this tactic.

Originally Posted by llwr 

I haven't read all the replies.

My 3.5 DD is also a dawdler.  It has helped us a lot for her to race her little sister (13 mos).  It took a while to catch on, but now she's super-fast dressing and getting in the car seat -- even starting the buckles herself.  (I always check and tighten them).   But if she doesn't win (usually not a problem), she screams and screams.   So I usually let her win.

I know it's really hard to be waiting on a dawdler when there's so many other things to do.  And I would never know if helping would get it done or just cause a tantrum!  Or she would say she wanted help but it was really hard to give while taking care of the baby as well.