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I am incredibly tired tonight. Our flight was two hours delayed yesterday, and so we arrived at the hotel around 7:30 PM local time, 6:30 our time. We were tired and hungry. We picked up a friend at the airport … a “RAD mom” from Topeka, Kansas that we met on the plane. She was by herself, so the girls and I incorporated her into our merry band and she caught a cab with us to the hotel. We were just getting out of the cab when Nancy Thomas and a couple of other moms and therapists walked by on their way to dinner. We unloaded our bags and joined them.
After dinner we headed back to our rooms to get to bed. We had to be down at the exhibit hall this morning at 7:30 AM, which is 6:30 our time! The girls were tired before the day started …
We talked to people all day and broke up the afternoon by doing two hours of therapy with Dora. Two awesome therapists tag-teaming … and Dora was venting her grief within moments of starting therapy. It was the longest purge session yet … she wailed for the better part of an hour. She was lighter than air when we were done and she bounced downstairs after therapy.
We grabbed a hamburger at the hotel pub and then managed to finagle a massage because most of the conference attendees were at another function. That was awesome. After that we returned to the room, and I was thinking the girls would get to bed at a decent time. But it was not to be …
I told them I would cuddle with them on the couch. With one child on either side, we settled in. Soon Beth began to melt down, although not seriously. That triggered Dora, who proceeded to wail at least another 40 minutes or so. Beth cycled in and out, although by the time Dora was out of gas, Beth had been in control of herself for awhile. I was too tired to do much but hold them.
They finally both seemed to be OK and so I tucked them into bed. Before writing this blog, I soaked my badly infected finger in hot water for the umpteenth time today. Just a little more hassle for the day.
There are lots of awesome parents and therapists here, and more for me to meet tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted!
Except for the therapy part, I am still jealous!! Give NT a big hug from me. Wish I was with you.
FYI:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/cdev/2005/00000076/00000006/art00002
Aunola, K., & Nurmi, J.E. (2005). The role of parenting styles in children’s problem behavior. *Child Development,* 76,1144-1159.
“The results showed that a high level of psychological control exercised by mothers combined with high affection predicted increases in the levels of both internal and external problem behaviors among children. Behavioral control exercised by mothers decreased children’s external problem behavior but only when combined with a low level of psychological control.”
Wow, I want to know how you can accomplish so many things, like traveling with two girls to a conference!
My own RADish will not give me two seconds peace. Some days, I can barely get my housework together. Any suggestions?