Capturing Eva's attention is difficult and if you do manage to make eye contact maintaining the connection is nearly impossible. Sometimes, when I see the difficulties her brother has today paying attention during desk work, I shutter to think that in a few years I'll have another one come along and challenge my patience all over again. They are two peas in a pod, those two.
It's amazing to see the polar opposites Eva can reach in a matter of minutes. She changes from an independent child who claims she can do everything from dressing herself to pottying alone, to a whiny baby who declares that she can't do anything at all, even walk--all at the drop of a hat.
She has a toddler table with 2 little plastic chairs but these days she prefers to sit at the big table, on a big chair even though that means she'll probably fall off before mealtime is through. It means more spills, interruptions and clean-ups. And don't try to sit someone else at her little table. She'll get angry and let you know that "Gamma and Gampa" gave her that table and it belongs to her. Nevermind that she doesn't want to sit at it. It's the principle involved, you know. And besides, who wants to feel like they're in exile during mealtime? All alone, apart from the bustling family table where obviously they have better food and conversation.
Yesterday there was a glimmer of hope. The child who has never sat through more than 5 minutes of any children's DVD, asked me to read her a book. I had started reading to her at nap time a few weeks ago and I guess it sort of grew on her. But reading was something she associated with sleeping so she had never asked me to read a book to her at any other time.
But yesterday, out of the blue, she brought me a book to read. We read the little book and she got up and brought another one. She sat through half of that one before she decided she had better things to do. But still, I had her attention for all of 14 minutes or so. It was encouraging, to say the least.
Birdie, busily playing with my phone before it gets snatched and put on a high, (high as in way up where she has no hopes of reaching it) shelf.
Hi mommy. I love you. The boss looks cute. Why don't you comment me that often?
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that picture could be Mujii! He too is in love with phones/tv changers/anything electronic!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like Eva (and Nate) are a lot like my brother was. At a young age a doctor tried to say he had ADD and wanted to medicate him @_@ ... but thankfully my Mother had seen that he could spend hours at a video game or with a toy so she knew he was capable of paying attention, and he went on to be an excellent (if spirited) student.
Now its no surprise that with more knowledge many doctors are saying that its not attention that these children are lacking, its INTEREST! The key is finding something that interests them and then base learning on that until they reach an age where they can concentrate on anything that they have to regardless of interest. Very few "ADD" kids need to be medicated, but its an easy out :(
It sounds like you are doing a great job with customizing your childrens' educations so that they can learn in the way that is best for them!