I mentioned in the previous blog that yesterday we had another dual meltdown event. Perhaps I should start with the day before …


I started off my Saturday morning by leaving the house before everyone was awake and taking three of the five dogs on a long walk. I took a nap that afternoon, but I was still “hitting the wall.” I hadn’t had a moment to myself in weeks. I ended up sending my husband out the door with both girls (they went to see Shrek 3) and I spent the blissful evening by myself … not managing anyone else’s emotions but my own! I looked at crochet patterns, took a quiet bubble bath with NO interruptions, and walked the dogs again, with NO sidekicks in tow. It was loverly!


However, the down side was the girls were very tired when they arrived home, and that fatigue carried into the next day. Not to mention there were a few “issues” that needed to be addressed.


I found a pile of candy wrappers stuffed in drawers and dropped on the floor. Only a day or two previously, I had found one in the barn. I had candy readily available but had told both girls they were to ask first. I know, foolish me. I adamantly stated that if I found one more candy wrapper, whether or not the candy was legitimately consumed, I would remove the candy from ready access. Nevertheless, BOTH girls had again helped themselves surreptitiously. I have had this conversation with Beth ad nauseum, and I was quite disappointed in her choices. I was much less surprised about Dora’s choice.


Both girls were sent outside to do yard chores with their dad. At one point, Beth came in and suggested to me that I rock Dora. Beth said, “She’s missing her mom.” I immediately cocooned in the rocking chair with a very unhappy Dora. During the course of that conversation, I learned some interesting comments had been made by Beth … comments I am not at liberty to share. I called Beth inside and inquired if my information was correct? It was. I sent Beth back outside while I dealt with Dora. When Dora was in better spirits, I sent her back outside and I started rocking Beth. Next up I’ll tell you some of the amazing insight I received from Beth. (And I will address ways to discern if a child is offloading real angst or just throwing a fit.)


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