I did 19km yesterday in 2hrs 30 minutes - don't laugh, this is a good non-race run for me! - with no soreness at all afterward. It's either the chi-running technique or the protein shakes after a long workout or both, but I'll be starting the Gold Coast half mara with the most consistent preparation I've ever managed.
Noddie's hobbies du jour include arguing, shouting, contradicting, being rude and disobedient, giving cheek and generally sending Mummy completely mental. This morning after yet another incessant argument-fest, I dropped the ball entirely and just started crying and couldn't stop. This was in lieu of shaking her until her teeth rattled, so it was for the best, although I wish my nose didn't spread across my face when I get the sooks cause everyone at work kept asking me what was wrong. Note to self: write rude letter to Avon about their 'waterproof' mascara, ha!
I racked my brains all day about how we could change the trajectory of this behaviour. All I could think of was a Family Meeting (we've never had such a thing before, but I was desperate) where we started by saying 3 things we liked about the other two, then we each got to set Limits for the other two. They have 'Limits' at kinder, and Noddie loves kinder so much I'm willing to ride that sleigh until it crashes into the gates of Hades. My limits are not be so cross and not shout so much, and Noddie's are to wear what Mummy gives her without arguing, except on Fridays and Saturdays when she can choose whatever she likes, and to either eat her breakfast or to explain politely that she's not hungry. J has some Limits too, but a wifely loyalty forbids me throwing the harsh light of public opinion on them.
Speaking of trajectories, I have radically changed a habit which has been worrying me for some time. For the last five weeks I have restricted my wine drinking to one glass - or fewer! - per day, 5 days a week. I didn't say anything because people can be a bit judgemental about drinking and also ok ok I admit it I was a bit ashamed that it had got this far, and a bit afraid I wouldn't be able to do it. But I made myself a little chart, and nicked some of Noddie's good behaviour stickers, and I did it!
I will soon be wearing this 
to remind myself that I can - and I do - make positive changes. It's not all whingeing and showing off!
The best news of all that I got today is that my dear friend M does not have lupus. It's a good day.
More anon, my friends
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Snakes and ladders
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 much-appreciated comments:
I have a lot of the same issues with Daughter, only she's 14yrs old and not so innocent about it.
I did lay down the law last week and declared "no tolerance" to rude, obnoxious, sarcastic responses. A $1 penalty is being enforced for each incident, with rights to remove priviledges as well for severe occurances. Is this a good approach? I have no idea, but I had to do something.
I used to argue with Andrew when he was young but then I gave up and just let him do what he wanted... but also made him deal with the consequences himself. If he wanted to wear shorts to school in the middle of winter and froze then he froze (btw he never did... he has NO sense of cold), if he didn't eat then he went hungry. I dunno if this was a good approach but he was stubborn and argumentative that it saved hours and hours of arguing time. Well actually just changed the arguments to more fun things like whether an army of flying monkeys could beat an army of exploding cows (that one's been going for about 15 years!)
We had family meetings every week (we raised 4 teenager girls-they all lived to tell about it). They seemed to help a really difficult situation..I seem to remember guzzling-oh, I mean sipping- alot of wine back then. Good for you for trying to cut down. It is tough..
P.S. Where did you get that sweatshirt? That is very cool!
Too bad you live down under (in this circumstance :-) cause I have a friend with a little girl Noddie's age that I'm sure you could swap horror stories with!!! LOL!! Patience, mama... She will know everything by the time she's 12, and you can just give up!! LOL!!
Way to go on the run!! Slow schmo... If anyone complains, let me bonk them on the head for ya ;-)
I hope all continues to be good and gets better on all fronts.
Keep on...
More Ladders than snakes...yay! Definitely a good day!
HA! How's that letter to Avon going!...
;)
Hiya!
Don't you have a regular training buddy then? I assumed EVERYONE had one except me. Its a pity mine lives 400 miles away! :)
Well done on cutting done on the wine as well. I go through cycles with it...where I drink far more than I ought to, and then I try to cut down to just one or two nights a week. What gets me is how much better I feel when I wake up in the morning! I think alcohol must disrupt your sleep patterns or something. I admit it though, I really ought to take a leaf out of your book though and cut back after my holiday booze-fest.
I wish I had some good advice to give you about Noddie, but for what its worth, although crying might not be the ideal solution in the long term, it does show that you internalised all the frustration and rage you must have been feeling at the time, and rather than shout or scream (or worse) at your daughter, you dealt with it in some other way. This, I think, makes you an awesome Mum - even if you do end up looking like a Diva with your bad make-up. ;)
What a great run! It sure shows your dedication.
A mix of carbs and protein (3 to 1 or 4 to 1) is better post-exercise than straight protein to aid recovery.
My niece Daisy is what we call "spirited" and if Noddie is as "spirited" as her then I can only say that you are AMAZING for your recent cutbacks on booze!
Dear LB,
I think the planets have just recently aligned such that our daughters have gone nutty this week. I could tell you stories about "the terrible fours"...we had no terrible twos. My favorite quote of hers when we'd been fighting about a naptime was, "I'm NOT going to sit here on timeout, I'm going to KICK you!" And she did.
I admire your tenacity to take on reduction of alcohol consumption at a time when you are dealing with daughter issues...I would have waited...but you are tough lady! I drink a lot, too, and I should follow your lead on reducing.
The thing about fighting with children is that it DOES pass and sometimes letting them get away with stuff does not turn them into bad people....or cause them to pee in the house (no, wait...that's the dogs, sorry!) ;-)
CONGRATS ON YOUR LONG RUN! That cures all, don't you think?
I am absolutely not kidding when I say there must be something in the planets right now. I know of quite a few friends, my sisters and some mums from bub's creche who have all discussed their children out of the ordinary behaviour lately.
I absolutely feel for you and say that it's bloody nice to see a parent who actually gives a shit about the outcome. So many parents just let the kids do whatever they please.
No answers hear I'm afraid. Still struggling myself.
Post a Comment