I’ve got the blogging and crafting blehs…My ankle socks are nearly done but due to the fact that my crafting room is one without an air conditioner I am just not motivated to make much else. Add to that Knittybaby’s marathon 90 minute bedtimes and Little Man just being SO Little Man lately and I’m wiped out.
My evening blogging time has also been replaced lately with my obsession with Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. I can’t stop reading it and re-reading it because WOW, all of a sudden my children make sense to me. I don’t write too much about this issue because when my kids read this blog 20 years from now I don’t want it be all negative; I tend to stick to the funnier troubles or the postive stuff my kids do, with maybe a little complaining now and then. All in all my kids rock and I want that to be the vibe around here. That said, as great as my kids are, they are not what one would call easy (yeah, I know, no kid is easy but there is a definite spectrum) and I’ve been feeling more and more frustrated lately.
In a nutshell, Kurcinka talks about temperment: intensity, perceptiveness, sensitivity, adaptation, persistence, energy (there are a few more). Everyone has these but a spirited kid has it to the next level. As she says, they are simply “more.” This explains why Knittybaby has the sleep issues he does and why Little Man can have a day where he meltsdown every twenty minutes all day long. I could write for pages but I won’t; we have a new bagel place to go check out this morning. But I’ll say again: WOW. Even if your kid is pretty even tempered I really think every parent, grandparent, teacher etc. should read this book.
Knittymama 
I need to get my mitts on that book, too. “Spirited” describes my kids to a T as well.
Are you going to the new place at 26th & Lyndale? I can remember what it’s called, but that’s where we’re headed if DH and Grace ever get up. Wish Arlo would let me sleep this late someday.
And now I hear footsteps upstairs…
Been there. Done that. Went to hear Mary speak at a community presentation years ago – very helpful. Hope your spirited group lets you relax soon.
Sending you any energy I have left after raising 2 not-as-spirited children…
{{{Hugs}}}
Yup, I’m not sure either Bug or I would have survived his early years without that book. I REALLY need to pull it off the shelf and re-read it. Preferably weekly…
And, dude, we do get some really great blog fodder from spirited kids while their less spirited peers are behaving themselves, right? ;o)
Sounds like a book I could use. My oldest is six and still has multiple meltdowns during the day. It seems as though the older he gets the worse and more frequent he has them. It is so draining and extremely frustrating. I have trouble talking to other people about it. They will just say all kids are like that. I really think he takes it a step or two further than most. Thank you for sharing it!!!
Hugs to you – I hope you all get to enjoy the bagel place!
That book does sound interesting- I might see if the library has it.
Your blog is definately positive. No worries, I don’t think you express negativity towards your kids. Not having any of my own, I image it can feel very overwhelming.
You definitely come across as positive! 🙂 But I can understand the drains of the “spirited child” – I sent that link to my SIL…
I need to read as well, although, I did raise 2 highly spirited children and I have to say I’m immensely proud of the outstanding “still spiritied” adults they’ve become – hugs to you all!!
Hi: As a fellow knitter I read your blog and love it. I actually see the Prairie Herb folks at the farmers market here in Des Moines every once in a while. I’m also a freelance writer working on a parenting piece on three parents and inspiring books/parenting advice they are reading and your recent post caught my eye. Any chance you’d be willing to be interviewed for my article?
Hey, I hope y’all are ok and weren’t anywhere near 35W earlier…