A simple life is looking really good right about now.

[aome]

I was nearly 3/4 of the way through the final part of this week's homework - on the discussion board - when I accidentally clicked wrong on the tab I was working in, and ... you can see where this is going, can't you? ... closed the tab. Which means I lost everything I'd been working on for the past hour. Unlike LJ/DW, Blackboard does not do any

Comments

[sheron]

in dealing with my offspring's (can I call them that?) recent Mood Issues

of course you can call them that, you're their mommy!

p.s.

[sheron]

Do you like/go camping? Might be an interesting experience for the girls to realize how many things they take for granted. (I personally don't like camping, but I think every kid should have a chance to decide if they do, at some point)

Re: p.s.

[aome]

I hate camping, and it's not Will's favorite thing, either. I agree that every kid should have that chance ... but I'd like them to have that chance some other way! (Also, I'm not sure that would really hammer the message home, since it's for such a short duration and might seem like more of a fun adventure than anything, at least for that period. Or it might. Not sure.)

Re: p.s.

[syntonic_comma]

[hamsterwoman]

*hugs* Sounds like a hell of a day -- hope tomorrow is better.

No help on teaching perspective, I'm afraid, but I do have to say, it sounds like a temporary/surface thing, maybe. I mean, it's easy for them to whine about not getting exactly what they want, but from past things they've done -- donating some of the garage sale proceeds to charity unprompted, wanting to help kids with family tragedies -- I think they actually have a better grasp on that than I would expect of most kids their age. Just not in the mood to show it, I guess...

[aome]

It's like they forgot. Or MiniPlu did, anyway. Seriously - yesterday she was horrendously upset that Two was wearing her new nice sandals to school (I allowed it Just This Once) because if she got them dirty it would Ruin Everything for MiniPlu for Easter and her first communion (May 1). Two's shoes. Ruining things for MiniPlu. I was downright gobsmacked at how self-centered and shallow she was being.

[ihlanya]

Jeez, Apple Girl ... neverending much??

*hugs you*

[aome]

Have I ever mentioned that I like the nickname variation you've bestowed on me? :D

[ihlanya]

Hee! No you haven't ... but I thought it suited you :)

I remember a long time ago, Devon was a nightmare at school - he was about 5 or 6 years old. So I took him to the local shanty town. And told him very sadly that they had no toilets or running water or electricity, they ate out of dustbins and bathed in the river next to where other people were going to the toilet.

He shaped up really quickly.

Maybe you could take the girls to a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter? And let them talk to people about things.

[aome]

*nods* We were thinking maybe a soup kitchen might work. A homeless shelter is good, too. We'll have to see what places allow kids to help or visit.

[pinguthegreek]

The only thing that srpings to mind reading this is to ask if Miniplu has talked about socialising with different people who might have different values ?

[aome]

There's always some of that. "But so-and-so's parents let them do it!" "Well, everyone makes their own decisions as to what's best and what's appropriate." She's actually reasonably understanding of that, even if she doesn't like it.

What I think might be driving some of this angst is that, as she gets older, social navigation becomes more challenging and complex. There are also frustrations or fears about the schoolwork. All that builds up inside her until she explodes, but she can't figure out what's really bothering her, so it just comes out as general anger at everything and everyone. :-P