Space

This morning's timeout did not go as expected. Little Miss Haana was not eating and had been sitting on the breakfast table with a bite in her mouth since eons. After much goading, I finally gave up. I told her to finish or get a timeout. As it turns out, timeout it was to be. The timeout place is on the turn of the stairs, away from any activities or stuff that could be utilized for play.

I didn't hear from her for sometime. I wondered if she'd fallen asleep. She hadn't. I spied her. She spied me back. I pretended to be busy working chores around the house. Another few minutes passed. Still no sound.

I crept up close and asked her what she was doing. She said, "I'm standing by myself and I was making funny faces at Papa."
"But Papa can't see you!" I asked.
"I was playing by myself", she said.

She had been hanging out by herself in a corner, with no toys or avenues. She was making funny faces and singing funny songs to herself, by herself. Entertaining herself.

It did beat the purpose of a timeout but I was very glad she's capable to having fun by herself. On this day of constant stimulation (television, radio, social engagements, social media, ... the list is endless), personal time has rapidly depleted. I'm guilty myself. The ability to give ourselves some time and space; and be able to enjoy one's own company is extremely valuable. I'm proud of little Miss Haana for being able to do that today. And I hope she never outgrows it!

Funny Things that Happen Everyday

Funny things that happen everyday:

Heard today from the back seat of the car while Papa was putting the little girl in the car seat- I'll give you a timeout Papa!

After more than 30 minutes of trying to put the little girl to nap, she gets up, puts both her hands on my cheeks and looks at me with overwhelming concern and anxiety. And say- Mumma, what's your name?!!

This morning the little girl got up and said Mumma I want to go and sleep on my Mini sofa. And then I want to wake up. Is that a plant Mumma? That a plant?

(I figure it is a plan!)

Time Out

We are deep into the terrible twos phase. You can tell when you realize your little one knows exactly what is required to be done; but just chooses to do otherwise. Also if the two-some is not getting exactly what she wants, an immediate melt down ensues. So, I had introduced a new weapon in my arsenal- timeout: a few minutes in a safe quiet place all alone. I tell her in a calm voice why the punishment is being given and then I leave her for a few minutes. 

Lately she's been sleeping in the bed with me and not in the crib, so I had been using the crib as a timeout zone. It's a safe place with no toys, no entertainment. And no mechanism for her to get out. A perfect, contained timeout place. Or so I thought.

Usually I would give her a timeout and then I would leave the room. She's generally bawling when I'm leaving. What I didn't know is that the crying doesn't last too long. 

The other day, I gave her a timeout but instead of going out, I retreated in the attached closet - I was trying to find something. The crying and whining stopped almost as soon as I disappeared from the scene. Instead, in the absense of entertainment toys at her disposal, she resorted to singing songs, narrating rhymes to herself. Making cartwheels in the crib, laughing at herself doing so. Talking to herself. More songs. More rhymes! And I thought this was a punishment! But this was no timeout! This was a fun time!

What was funnier? When I came back into the room and when she saw me, the whining began all over again :)

Wicked:)