Kat ~ I meant to answer your question about the crying. Sometimes the only thing we can do is be present for the child. He may need to just get emotions out and that's how he's doing it. He may be trying to get someone's attention. Kellen will cry louder if he thinks we aren't responding fast enough. Empathizing could help if you have any inkling of why he's upset. Just keep in mind that sometimes children will cry even more or louder at first because they feel safer doing so if they think they are really being understood.
We don't live a completely consensual life. I don't think it's possible with young children that adults are legally responsible for. However, keeping the principles of consensual living in mind, I try to take the kids' thoughts, feelings, ideas and perspectives into account as equally as possible. In that vein, no one's vehicle is any more important than anyone else's. To me, the thoughtful, caring thing to do is leave space in the driveway for whomever thinks it's most important to park there. Since I don't really care if my van is in the driveway or on the street, I'll park on the street. I'm not giving anything up so that Ryan and dh can both park there because I don't care. If I cared, the thing to do would be maybe say that either the first person home parks on the street or first come, first serve for the driveway. I think it's also possible for Ryan to park his car behind the van or the truck. The only problem with that is that someone might have to move cars since we have different schedules. That's not a big deal, though, imo.
Anyway, the idea of consensual living is to do just that. Take everyone into account equally and work toward a solution that makes everyone happy. It can sometimes be difficult and may take several tries at different things but it's not impossible. Of course, it's a lot harder when one parent wants to live that way but the other doesn't get it.
Carrie ~ Regular application of garlic ear drops might help clear up and prevent the ear problems. Breastmilk might help, too. Also, keep in mind that was looks like and is called an ear infection is not always a bacterial infection. I read that any time the inside of the ear looks red or swollen or inflamed it's called an ear infection even if there may not be any bacteria present. That's one reason that medical associations now recommend against giving abx right away. Unless the child has a fever and has been sick for over week, I wouldn't think of giving abx. It takes at least a week for the immune system to fully kick in and start fighting an infection fully. Also, treating a fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen can prolong the illness since the purpose of fever is to kill any invading organism that might be making the body sick with heat.
When I click on that link for the flex pass I just get this thread again. Weird. I looked at that before and am not willing to pay that much, especially for something I don't really want to do. I really do not like amusement/theme parks. Also, I definitely would not do something like that without dh because I am such a baby about that sort of stuff. I need him to take care of me as well as the kids.
I can get a 3 day pass for Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown for a lot less.
She seems ok...as ok as one can be. But I still feel terrible for her and am sending her healing vibes.
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