Sunday, December 20, 2009

Keeping the Peace – Encouragement, not Enforcement

You know, C is doing better and better each week. Her health is better; she’s happier. That’s enough. She does really  well when she remembers her thyroid meds. With the holidays approaching, it seems harder for her to remember; she forgets more often. By dinner time, we can tell whether she had her meds or not that day. This is not a complaint. This is actually good news. The once overwhelmingly complicated reactions to all the meds have simplified until I can simply tell if her thyroid is up-to-date or not. It’s a part of the doing better, and I’m glad for it.

If you’ve watched the video at the OPB website detailing the children of The Nutcracker, you’ll notice they spend the lion’s share of the piece concentrating on the angels! And, surprisingly, a lot of angel time is spent on the dress. Except you need to say it like this:  The Dress.

M had been feeling some frustration (as manifested by a couple good cries) because the dress wasn’t performing right. Some other girls seemed to be having some struggles, too. So today apparently was fine-tuning day. M said the matinee went oh-so-much-better, dress-wise. She was happy and proud. It was clear that the dress is once again her friend.

R had makeup homework to complete. No, no, let me try that again. Ryne had homework to make up. He would not have liked the sound of the first try…he’s getting really gender sensitive lately; he must be an emerging adolescent. Anyway,  He hammered it out today, leaving him worry-free for the rest of the winter break. Good for him! He’s been really, really helpful around the house, too.

Me?  Umm… just serving the family. Keeping the Peace. Refereeing.  Thanks for asking. Working hard not to incite drama, myself, but to help calm down the dramatics should they erupt (and appear without provocation the drama will). Oh, I don’t mean to paint my family as fighting. They’re not. We’re getting along really quite well overall. It’s just that I’ve  got a hypothyroid surgery rehabber, a pubescent WII-niac with an emerging sense of sarcasm, and a budding ballerina with a bit of  a diva complex when she feels intimidated. These are just the foibles of my family. They’re each dear in their own way. I’m just deciding – choosing - to be as calm and level headed as I can be.

So, nothing’s happening for me. By design. I’m must gliding smoothly along the placid surface of the lake that is my life. Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? I’ll just keep all the foot-paddling going on underneath the surface  to myself right now, eh?  <GRIN>

The next couple weeks are going to be delightful. We’ve intentionally under-booked in comparison to previous years. This slower pace will be great. After all we’ve done or gone through in the last four years, we need the healing of a slower life.

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