ANGER MANAGEMENT

Whew!!! Kierra has been giving me a run for my money that last week. I'm not exactly sure what is going on with her, but to sum up in one word: Tantrumrama!

Every little thing seems to set her off lately. She spied a favorite shirt of hers in the laundry pile and when I wouldn't give it to her, she followed me around the house for about 4 hours screaming and pitching fits. When working with her therapist, she's being extremely rigid and doesn't want to do the task asked of her. Every time she gets upset, she's either screaming or crying. It gets to the point I just want to cancel her therapist for the day just to get some piece and quiet. I can see how hard she is pushing her, and how frustrated Kierra is becoming. Maybe it's hard for us to remind ourselves how little she still is. Maybe we've been so hell-bent on getting this kid on a roll; we focus more on the autism than the child. If I need a vacation from it all, I think maybe Kierra needs a vacation for it all as well.

So me and the man have made an executive decision to go to my mom's for a week in August. All we are going to do is sit poolside and relax. I think it would be great for Kierra (and for me!). Thinking logically, this kid works longer and harder than most adults. Until school vacation, she was doing therapy all morning, having 1/2 hour lunch, and then going to school for therapy all afternoon. She's been doing this since she was three years old (she just turned five). Although she has made great advances by leaps and bounds, part of me is scared of her suffering a therapy burn-out. So hopefully our little get-away will do her some good.

Today I've decided we are doing therapy at the Zoo. Social outings actually are a part of her therapy, but in a way, it's not really work. It's fun - which I think she could use. After that, I'm putting out the kiddie pool, and we are just going to sit in the sun and mellow.

For me, I've pretty much hit stress toleration points. It's those moments in your mommy hood where you honestly say if you don't get away from your kid, you are going to put her in the drop box for the homeless at the grocery store. I've usually prided myself on my ability to tough it out through some miserable times. But when it's every single day for a week - after a while your cool starts to shake loose. Last night I declared shopping night, and ditched the kids with hubby. In hindsight it was a good trip: I bought two gowns and two bathing suits for upcoming occasions. I just hope the next day brings a happier Kierra.