I just wanted to share a few more things about our camping trip.
Here are some pictures:
Lisey all cozy by the fire.
Scott and Ava “nuggling” by the fire. They stayed up late each night just cuddling and talking while Lise and I snoozed.
The first night we lit a fire, Ava watched the embers fly up into the sky and commented that we were planting stars. As the fire burned on, more and more stars appeared in the sky.
(adapted from: “How Does a Dinosaur Go to School?”)
What does Mommy do when she’s mad?
Does she scream?
Does she scold the kids for being bad?
Does she cuss?
Does she stomp both her feet?
Does she make a big fuss?
Does she cry?
Does she ask God why?
Does she throw a big tantrum and punch the wall?
Does she wonder why nobody is listening at all?
DOES MOMMY YELL?
No. (not anymore!)
Mommy has taken an anger management (for parents) class.
She has learned that she is very normal, at last.
She now knows the importance of taking care of her self.
She has stopped putting her needs up high on a shelf.
She better understands what is making her mad.
It isn’t the kids, and it’s certainly not Dad.
She has learned to single each trigger out.
They no longer build until she screams and she shouts.
She has learned some positive discipline techniques.
The house is running so smoothly, she barely needs to speak.
Now Mommy rarely loses her cool.
Thank you, thank you, anger management school.
We have been getting a kick out of Ava’s BIG words!
“Mommy, stop judging me around!”
Practicing shrugging her shoulders: “this feels unnatural.”
I”m in Ava’s room helping her clean up: “Actually Mommy, I would prefer to clean it myself.”
“Daddy, will you come and play when you are available?”
“Silly Mommy. She didn’t organize my blankets how I like them.”
Playing on the floor with Ava, she looks at my bare feet and says, “Mommy, I saw a commercial for some stuff that is meant to soften heels.”
“When we go to the beach in San Diego, can we play in the water or will we get hypothermia?”
A picture of our sleeping angel:
