I Can Help Myself

Yesterday was a snow day. Riley did not have to go to school. He is always complaining about not having a job so I told him that his new job is to shovel snow which is something he loves doing anyway. Earlier in the season I had to buy Riley his own shovel so that I would be able to use the adult shovel. It is blue and he loves it. We have to take it with us when it is snowing so that he can shovel wherever he is at, the flower shop, the restaurant, PaPa and YaiYai's, at home, etc.

We were running errands and stopped at home to shovel the snow on the driveway because I knew that we would be home late. Riley went down the street to play with the neighbor boy, and I followed him down there after awhile to talk with the boy's mother. Riley went back toward the house because our other neighbor came out to shovel, and he wanted to visit with him. Then, Riley disappears into the house. When he did not come out, I followed him in and found out that he did not make it to the rest room in time since he had on snow pants. By himself, he stripped down, found dry clothes, changed, and was getting ready to go back outside. I was very proud of him for doing all of this by himself!

Then, I thought about the wet clothes and asked him where they were. He could not tell me! I looked everywhere, and I finally found them in his underwear drawer! I was not too happy about that, but he promised not to do it again (put dirty clothes in his drawers)!

Meltdowns

Been having some meltdowns lately and not sure of the cause. Saturday's meltdown was over not being able to get out of the car to go and pay a bill with Mommy. Riley was in the car with his sister and grandma waiting because we were just going to drive around the mall to another entrance after I paid the bill at Macy's. I think he did not like being left behind even for a few minutes. He has been somewhat attached to Mommy lately, maybe due to change in routine.

On Sunday Riley had a meltdown as we were leaving to go to get ice cream. He threw a fit because I would not allow him to take his gun to the ice cream store. Maybe Riley feels he does not have control and is therefore acting out.

Yesterday, Riley had a meltdown with grandma. Grandma ordered food, and I did not send along anything for him. Grandma had to send someone back to get him what he wanted from the restaurant.

Hopefully, being with me tonight at my book club will help him to behave. Riley always want to go to book club with me, and this is the perfect way for him to see the book club, as I am hosting it.

Talking to Daddy and Strangers

Riley and his dad have a little running joke going. It goes like this.

Daddy: "You're a dork!"

Riley: "No, you're a dork!"

It has moved onto to Riley's replying, "You're a dork and a half".

A few days ago Riley replied to Daddy, "You have long hair and no neck".

Last night we were at the mall, and Riley was talking to the man behind us in line. He told the man, "My name is Riley, but my daddy calls me dork".

Out of the mouth of babes and I could only imagine what the man and his son were thinking!

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down Confusion

After Christmas Riley's classroom implemented a new behavior system that started each child off each day with three thumbs ups. For misbehavior Riley would have to go and turn one of his thumbs to the down position and miss five minutes of recess if he could not correct his behavior. He would have the opportunity to return his thumb to the up position if he corrected his behavior and would be given a small treat at the end of each day for having three thumbs up.

About a week after the behavior system started, I started asking Riley each day how many thumbs up he had at school, and he would always tell me two and show me his two thumbs. Then, he would proceed to tell me that thumbs up meant open, and thumbs down meant closed. (The last is from an episode of Handy Manny when Manny and the tools give Kelly a sign for her store.) I then showed him the example that the teacher had sent home and asked him if he saw these thumbs in his classroom and how many did he get up and he would still tell me two.

Finally, I had to ask the teacher. I explained to her my dilemma and his confusion of having two thumbs, one on each hand v. having three thumbs posted at school. She told me that he has never gotten a thumbs down, and he gets the prize everyday. She said to try and ask him whether or not he got the prize for the day. Today, I asked him if he got a high five, he said, "No, Mommy, but I got a sticker on my mitten, see!" That meant that he got three thumbs up for the day. We are making progress at understanding!