Summer vacation is off to a roaring start

[janradder]

Today marks the second official day of summer vacation (excluding weekends) for Arie and Éiden. So far, for me at least, it's been hellish.

Arie has been off in his own world, vaguely wandering about doing his own thing and telling me, "Okay, just a second!" every time I ask him to do something, which, in Arie-speak, means, "I'll do it in twenty minutes when I'm done with whatever I'm futzing around with, that is if I actually remember."

Éiden, on the other hand, has been doing his best to annoy the fuck out of everyone in the house. When he hasn't been wandering around making every conceivable noise he can with his mouth (popping, smacking, squirting, buzzing -- seriously, he's worse than the dog), he's been literally poking his brother with his finger. Or licking his arm. Or trying to shove dog hair in his mouth. Or spitting on his head. Or knocking over whatever Arie has been playing with.

Every twenty seconds I've heard the cry, "Daaaaaddddyyyy! Édien is . . . (fill in the blank)," or I've been repeating myself until I'm ready to explode.

So this afternoon, on the way to swimming lessons, I told the boys that if we kept this up -- the boys doing their best to aggravate each other and me, and me doing my best to spend as much time yelling at them as possible, this was going to be one miserable summer. Instead, I said to them, let's try to be nicer to each other. And after swimming, I put that to practice, joking around as we raced from the Y to the car through the rain that it was raining babies and dogs, trying to get bean burritos out of the ATM, and acting general dumb and silly, and at least for this evening, it worked. We'll see about tomorrow, but I am right about things needing to change, because already, this has been about as close to hellish as I can take.

Comments

[glamberson.livejournal.com]

Although she managed to be adorable for most of the Stokers weekend attendees, she was a-horrible to Tamar, who eventually broke down. Too much excitement, too much fun and too much jet lag for a little girl. Now that we're back into our normal routine, she's calmed way down and we have a good time together in the day. The thing that drives me crazy is that every time I tell her to do something she says, "No, thanks."

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Arie is always pretty horrible whenever we've traveled, probably because it's a change in routine that he really doesn't do well with (though he's getting better the older he gets). Hearing "No thanks" sounds about as maddening as ""Just a second" (I love that she's polite in her refusal,though -- that's pretty funny).

[mia-mcdavid.livejournal.com]

I'm glad being silly worked; and I really, REALLY hope they calm down and start being decent. Hugs!!!

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Me to, because right now it's looking like it's going to be a long summer.

[st-writes.livejournal.com]

Good luck to you!
I have found that being silly and enthusiastic works better than yelling, usually. But it isn't necessarily any easier.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

No, it certainly isn't. Plan B, though, involves giving up being silly ad instead investing in a giant super-soaker. Whenever the boys get unpleasant, I'll aim and fire, hopefully convincing them to change their ways, sort of like when I spray the cats with a squirt bottle.

[mia-mcdavid.livejournal.com]

I know it's a horrible drag, particularly in H county, but you guys REALLY need to be sure you have an open case. They're giving out waivers now, and A's aggressions would get you a fair amount of help. I never could have done it without in-home help.

Hang in there...

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- it's actually Éiden who's being the biggest pain in my ass, though.

[mia-mcdavid.livejournal.com]

I get all that, but divide and conquer! Eidan would like some special daddy time, I'm sure, and it will be easier to manage him when he's not competing with Arie for your attention. Erm...I think...ymmv...

[g1rld3t3ct1v3.livejournal.com]

My formerly agreeable 3+ younger boy (as opposed to his on-the-spectrum older bro) has lately become most difficult as well. Here's what's working for me: distraction (like your silliness), division (trying to get only one of them with me at a time) and daycare three days a week, to help both with the division and to bring the constant threat level down.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's odd -- as soon as Arie started doing well at school and home, Éiden decided it was time to take up the slack, which is pretty maddening. The boys are both in a summer program three days a week, and that has definitely helped at least on those days.