Wow…we survived Christmas! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend with friends or family…or both! What are your traditions? Our traditions got a little mixed up this year. For the past few years I have hosted at our house. I feel like sometimes it’s actually easier. Both families here. No traveling for us. Everyone pitches in with food and cleaning up. It’s great! And equally, for the past few years we’ve had my brother spend the night (he’s Santa’s helper, actually) and my family would come up in the morning for breakfast. This year I made a French Toast Casserole that you make the night before. DELISH! You can find the recipe here.
This year we switched things up. We had Christmas Eve dinner at my parents after the children’s service at church. We opened their gifts and had a great time! The kids, however, didn’t get to bed until about 9:00. They slept in until 8:00, though! Then, breakfast here, with lots of fun time outside. The weather was perfect on Christmas morning! I’m really regretting not getting a picture of my dad riding Mason’s bike around the neighborhood. I really dropped the ball on that one.
In the afternoon, we went to my in-laws for Christmas dinner. Not before Emma had a meltdown. I actually can’t remember what it was about. I try to block those things out. Some food helped her calm down (things can get out.of.control. when her blood sugar drops). We headed to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, the kids played outside some more, and we ate dinner. After dinner, more gifts. And we came pretty close to another meltdown about her new helmet for horse back riding. It’s difficult with her because she gets so excited about her gifts, and if the size is not right, or we have to exchange and she’s not able to play with her gift, sh!t can hit the fan. I don’t know how to control situations like that. What she can comprehend is limited. And so while it looks like another temper tantrum thrown by a spoiled brat, rather it’s Emma not understanding the situation, and not being able to appropriately control her emotions (for a seven year old). When she’s at home, she can go up to her room, remove herself from highly stimulating situations, and give herself the time she needs to calm back down. It’s not always easy when you’re not at home.
This break hasn’t been the dream-like break I was hoping for. It’s been pretty challenging. And therefore I fear the wrath that summer break will bring. Eeeek!!
I do have pictures. And they are still on my camera. My bad.
Wow, we had a great Christmas, did you? We are lucky (and I do mean that) in that both my husband’s family and my family both live here…about 10 minutes away from each other! So it does make it nice to not travel during the holidays. Of course it can make for busy days…going from one family to the other. Now that our kids are out of infancy and toddler-hood, it’s a lot easier to move about with them, too. Fortunately, this year, we were able to all spend Christmas day together…all 20 of us…at my in-law’s house. It was a nice day.
The one issue that we have time and time again is Emma’s over-stimulation. I don’t know if we think it will just go away, or that she’ll start getting used to crowds, but our daughter gets over-stimulated so easily. She doesn’t act out or have temper tantrums, fortunately. She becomes very clingy to Brett or me, not wanting to talk to anyone, meet anyone, or interact. It takes her awhile to warm up. Her cousins (ages 13, 10, and can almost always help the situation. But if it’s too much, usually a quiet room with a book or video will help her decompress.
She’s been like this since birth…always sensitive to “busy situations”. And we’ve all dealt. But still…I keep thinking she’ll get used to it and it will disappear. On the positive side, she recognizes when she gets over-stimulated and will go into a back room by herself with a book. And she’s cool with us not being there with her. In fact, she prefers it.
I know that there are many kids without special needs that get over-stimulated quickly. Do you have a child like this? What do you do to help the situation?
*I will post Christmas pictures…I just haven’t even uploaded them to the computer! Sunday is all about putting away the Christmas decorations until next year!
Emma on the Polar Express...a little over-stimulated!
music runs in the family…hopefully not that fashion sense, though!
Is it too early for Christmas music? You tell me. I typically try to refrain from all the festive merriment until Thanksgiving Day. Then it’s a free for all (unless Brett’s in the car and then I really have to fight for it). And just for the record, Emma and I love the Holly station on XM! When do you start listening to Christmas music?
And now I need help. (can you tell I want feedback now that it works??) I need a description for Jumping Waves. A few words to go under the title…something that captures the essence of my blog. Any ideas? I wish I had a giveaway for the best idea, but I’m not that popular or rich yet!
can almost always help the situation. But if it’s too much, usually a quiet room with a book or video will help her decompress.
