Ah, the joys of raising children? Since you read this blog, I’m sure you’re sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to hear about Ben’s latest annoying habit. Well, your wait is over. Here it is:
Yup, it’s spitting. Here he’s drinking water from a water bottle and spitting it out, but believe me, the water bottle is not a critical component of this behavior. I’m telling you – he can spit anytime, anywhere, any place. Just the sound of it makes me cringe. Seriously, it’s gross.
We’ve told him not to spit. Yeah, that really worked.
I’ve tried the method of telling him spitting is only allowed in certain places. Outside. On his bed. In the tub. In the bathroom sink. At least that way I’m not sitting on wet furniture or slipping on spit-covered floors. But still, just the sound of it…
A while ago, I was so frustrated with how he’d go over and hit Joey out of nowhere and knock him over and such. He’s not as bad about that as he was. Or perhaps I should say it isn’t just this random pattern anymore. He still pushes and shoves, but there is an obvious cause (he thinks Joey should be doing something or be somewhere else). We’re working on this of course, but in the real world, behavior problems do not just disappear overnight (as those without children would like to think).
And he used to entertain himself all day. He’d read his stories, play with his trucks and cars, play outside for hours on end. Now he does none of that. All he can do is pester Joey and spit. Spit, spit, spit.
I’m a dismal failure as a mother.
Now I know, throwing money at a problem isn’t always necessarily the way to solve it. But last night, in desperation, I found this online and decided to order it. I’m hoping it will help me help Ben find more interesting things to do. As in, more interesting things to do than spit. Ugh!
This morning I played the piano and sang with him. The Alphabet Song, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, and Shall We Go For a Walk Today? among other favorites. [I don’t have the music to any of those songs which is why I haven’t played any of them for him before, but desperate times call for desperate measures, like improvising at the piano, which I suppose can’t hurt me…] He seemed to really enjoy it.
Later on I plan to make some zucchini patties and zucchini bread to use up some zucchini I have. My intention is to invite him to watch me and perhaps help where he can.
I need to make a point to involve him in my activities. Accomplishing that will require me to change the way I do things, but if it means less spitting, I’m all for it.
The spitting. Both my boys did it, too. It lost it’s allure quickly, especially once I told them they were only allowed to spit in the bathtub, alone. Meaning, if they wanted to do it and not be immediately reprimanded and sent for time-out, they had to go into the bathroom, close the door, and stand in the tub. That was boring, I guess. I used the same technique for bad language–you can say anything you like, as long as you’re alone in the bathroom. Nothing like hearing your 4 year old screaming DAMMIT at the top of his lungs for 10 minutes behind the bathroom door, but it got boring before too long and he quit.
I think it’s just a phase, though. Really. At least it’s water, and not Pepsi!