The missing 7 and 8

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10!” She smiles as she completes the series of numbers. Counting up the stairs, counting chips, counting her books..it’s all counting. She says, “no 7 and 8.” It’s as if she has decided that she does not want to conform to the way to count to 10.

Yesterday, I felt defeated. Why? Because if I said up she’d say down. If I said blue, she’d say red. If I said, “7 and 8” she’d say “no 7 and 8″…
Today, I decided and well, after much prayer and asking for help from HIM, I approached today differently.

I gave more choices.

IMG_6096 (this little fireball wants things her way..and I have to work with that.)

I looked for other ideas for ways to get Tatum more involved and excited. (We went to the park with the ball, and I let her run!!! (Not away!!! 🙂

IMG_6103

 

This led me down a path of reading multiple blogs. Positive idea? Nope. I just felt more guilty and ill-equipped, but after again, much prayer…I found some takeaways.

1. We need to get out more. She needs to see the sights outside. However, she wants to walk and be in control. So, I found a way for us to hike but with her both walking and me carrying her. The Boba seems to be a great idea. It can handle up to 45 lbs and she can be carried on my back. Very fun!! We can start hiking.

81UsKPiUXVL._SL1500_2. Perhaps she could do some imagination ideas. I think a tent would be perfect. She could hide in it with some pillows, perhaps sleep in it, and maybe do some playing. Man, there are a zillion ways to make a tent, but I settled on just buying a pop tent that can be moved to different spaces.

41bmtouLSaL._SY300_We shall see how she likes it.

All I know is that I need to stay one step ahead with her swift learning and new ways to deal with her independence. As long as she can say NO with kindness and I can respond with Yes, you can when…. The less I can say NO the better model I can be. NO is saved for serious issues.

Today, we played “what did I take away?” I put up a series of pictures and had her guess which one I took away. This tested her ST memory. She loved it because she thought I could no way outsmart her. After winning multiple times, she tested mine and took one away. Brilliant way to keep her engaged.

So, back to the giving her choices…with this, she will learn I love her and HEAR her, but I am still in charge. The minor things she can have charge! (toothpaste colors, which baba, what color bow, which shoes, in 5 minutes or now, 2 or 3 books…etc) She feels heard, honored, and understood. It’s a win win.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. She might not say 7 and 8, but I will continue to say how much I appreciate 7 and 8. If I say, NO 7 and 8, she may want to include it in her counting repertoire. Hmmm…

IMG_6088 IMG_6086

Happy mommy, Happy Tata.