On the mend
Oatmeal Face!
Mistress Mouse seems to be feeling better - yesterday she was awake 3+ hours in between her naps and she took a 1.5 hour nap on her own in the afternoon!! I don’t know why, but it appears that when she’s not feeling so good she actually sleeps LESS than normal.
I’ve been re-reading parts of Mary Sheedy Kurcinka’s book, Raising Your Spirited Child. It’s been good for me - mostly because the first time I read it, Gwen was only a few months old and although I knew she was going to be ’spirited’, I couldn’t yet identify many of the temperamental traits that made her spirited. On the second read-through, I’ve identified:
- Intensity - my favourite description of this is, “a living staircase of emotion, up one minute, down the next,” (Kurcinka, 2006, p. 41). Um yeah. That about does it.
- Sensitivity - “has to have quiet to sleep,” “a selective eater,” “acts out your stress,” (Kurcinka, 2006, p. 45).
- Regularity - “never falls asleep at the same time,” “is hungry at different times each day,” (Kurcinka, 2006, p. 55). Gwen, Gwen, Gwen.
- Energy - anyone who has ever watched Gwen or held her will know that this is one of her traits … she is NEVER still.
- First Reaction - “Rejects at first or watches before joining in,” (Kurcinka, 2006, p. 57). Now, it depends on the activity, but generally speaking, she’s a watcher. Or she joins in and then decides she’s not ready yet and wants to snuggle for a while before joining in again.
There’s a few temperamental traits that I’m not sure about - adaptability, persistence, mood, and perceptiveness - mostly because she can’t yet communicate enough to be sure.
Bath Time!
Either way, I’m finding the book to be helpful in helping me to name the traits that she’s exhibiting and find new ways of labeling them - for example, instead of ‘dramatic’, say ‘expressive’; instead of ‘emotional’, say ’sensitive’. It’s been good for me to learn how Gwen might think and, especially, how she is probably feeling inside during different situations. For example, it’s helpful for me to know that if she is prone to having a negative first reaction, she is actually, physically experiencing a racing heart, dilated pupils, rising blood pressure, and tense vocal cords and that it is a physical reaction tied to her genetic make-up (Kurcinka, 2006).
Look at me!
And seriously. How cute is this kid? Even though sometimes her reactions drive me a bit batty, she’s the sweetest, most curious, happiest baby for the most part. I couldn’t imagine my life without her now that she’s here and I’m loving getting to know this little person!!
Jen said,
February 17, 2009 @ 10:53 am
Sweet sweet Gwen. Adorable. Great post, Kim!
brandy said,
February 17, 2009 @ 1:40 pm
Kim, what made you read the book in the first place?
kim said,
February 18, 2009 @ 1:24 am
Thanks, Jen!!
Brandy, I was describing some of the difficulties I had been having with Gwen to my LLL leader and she suggested that I read the book, as her daughter was also spirited and she found it very helpful.
Laura said,
February 18, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Answer: she is RIDICULOUSLY cute. I’d have to say … the second cutest Gwen I’ve EVER seen
Interesting to hear about this book! I hope you’ll write more about your conclusions and how it will guide your interactions with Gwen as time goes on.
Adventures In Babywearing said,
February 20, 2009 @ 2:20 am
She is ADORABLE! And I think I need to read that book.
Steph
Kathryn said,
February 21, 2009 @ 10:58 am
Look at that big girl!! I can’t believe she is standing up already!! Wow!
Kathryn said,
February 21, 2009 @ 10:59 am
Oh, forgot to mention, Nadia was/is the same way with sickness. When she is ill she sleeps less, until, that is, she gets better. Then she catches up. Don’t know why, but that’s the way she is.