He’s so stinkin’ cute.
But, he’s become a bit of an Eeyore, feel-sorry-for-myself kid.
Which, I confess, gets a bit tiresome.
Don’t let this adorable face fool you.
I hear a whole lot of “Nobody likes me!” “No one ever wants to play with me!” “Everybody hates me!” as he stomps around with a full-on frown.
Logic doesn’t seem to change anything. And, extra attention doesn’t either. We can get him to smile only to see him trying to hide the smile so that we think he’s still upset.
Today, when he started up with this type of talk again, I was inspired to use some creativity to address it this time. And, I was feeling pretty good about that.
“Drew, I love you so so much. I always love you. I’m never going to stop loving you. And, I want you to be reminded of that all the time. So, I’m going to make a sign that says ‘Mama Loves Drew,’ and we’re going to hang it up wherever you want to hang it so that when you see it, you can remember that I love you so so much.”
So, I wrote out the letters for the sign. Drew colored them. I cut them out. And, as soon as Lydia went down for her nap, he and I grabbed the masking tape and went upstairs so he could choose just where he wanted to hang his love note.
He wanted it right at his eye level on his bedroom door. Score.
So, we put it right there for him and everyone else to see. And, with one arm around his shoulders, I ran my finger across the letters and slowly read them to him: “See this, Drew? M-a-m-a l-o-v-e-s D-r-e-w. Do you like it?”
He was quiet for a second.
“There’s one problem,” he told me.
Really? I thought this was the best idea. What could possibly be the issue now?
With a full-on grouch face and arms crossed, “My name has ‘ew’ in it.”
Seriously. That is what the boy said. To which I could not control my laughter.
So much for my supermom strategy.
Guess he could always go by Andy if he really wanted.
LOL – he sure is one determined little thing, isn’t he?!
Your description of him at the opening here reminds me of a tool we used with the kids when were that age that I love and I took it out and dusted it off for the kids I sit for….
“Everyone feels like an Eeyore (gloomy) or a Rabbit (bossy, grumpy) or even a Piglet (worried, fearful) sometimes. And that’s okay. But if you are gonna choose to camp there and be Eeyore, Rabbit, or Piglet for the whole day, then you can please head up to your room (or the time out chair) and choose to be that up there. Cuz down here, we’re being Tigger and Pooh and we’re gonna smile and laugh and have fun together. But it’s your choice. Really. You can choose.”
The other day, the little girl I sit for CHOSE to cross her arms, pout like crazy, and grabbed a book to go sit in the time out chair. For like 20 minutes. I had the hardest time NOT laughing out loud as I watched her out of the corner of my eye…. Made me think of how I feel almost every day at 8:01 p.m. :)
That was hilarious!!! I agree you are supermom and you are living with superkid!!! Blessings and love! XO
Ps LOVED meeting you this weekend!!!
Poor guy…poor you…lots of prayers! That whole “middle kid” stuff is the pits!
Bahahahahahahahaha! Oh my my side hurts!
I think Drew is awesome! Maybe I should make him a sign too. :)
I had to laugh…sounds a lot like my now 13 yo. He’s gotten better, but is still a little Eeoyorish sometimes and will let 1 little thing ruin a great day sometimes. I just keep telling him how much we love him…
That is so funny. You can’t win with Eeyore! I wonder if he will always be a “glass half empty” kind of guy or if it’s just one of those phases? Sounds a lot like Wyatt. I bet together they would be qutie a pair! :)
Haha! Great idea! I had one or two children who went through the poor me phase.
Blessings,
Tasha