allhaileris
Crumbling Family Rock
husband and I are big Renaissance Fair geeks and work every year. Well, he has worked but I've spent many weekends at home taking care of daughter so he can get a break. This is where husband and I met and have a family type bond with a ton of people.
Well, last weekend was the first of six weekends, and we all went. I made Eris a couple more pieces of her costume so she had a costume that went with her age and she was totally adorable. Here is the biggie - she had only ONE tantrum, and only because it was late and she was tired. I took her back to our tent, told her a story and actually saw her fall asleep (which never happens). We had a good weekend! When she asked for things and I said no, she didn't freak out (she's been getting better at this anyway, didn't freak out yesterday at Target when I didn't want to go to the toys either). She had lots of new people to talk to, and saw quite a few people she knew already. Had a weird experience getting dissed by an 8 year old and acted weird for about an hour after, but worked it out in her own way and was back to normal soon. She got a bunch of free stuff for being cute and the kid of a Faire worker (free rides on swings, marbles, pottery charms).
husband didn't want to take her because he's been so stressed out, but in the end he didn't throw a fit about her either. Yay! SHe prooved she could go and act decent. I had originally planned on not going 2nd and 4th weekend, but she did so well I'm going this weekend as well (2nd). And, one of my friends said she'd watch her in the late evening so we could go have some fun on site with our party friends. Last weekend I stayed in the tent while husband went off. THis weekend we'll be able to go out together and be adults.
And to top it all off, my brother and his girlfriend agreed to watch her for the 3rd (my birthday) and 5th weekend so I can go with husband and we can really have fun and relax (and work more hours since we'll be able to overlap schedules).
Nothing at home has changed attitude wise, but this is an amazingly huge improvement. To actually be able to go enjoy ourselves, share something with her that we love and have her be manageable.
Well, last weekend was the first of six weekends, and we all went. I made Eris a couple more pieces of her costume so she had a costume that went with her age and she was totally adorable. Here is the biggie - she had only ONE tantrum, and only because it was late and she was tired. I took her back to our tent, told her a story and actually saw her fall asleep (which never happens). We had a good weekend! When she asked for things and I said no, she didn't freak out (she's been getting better at this anyway, didn't freak out yesterday at Target when I didn't want to go to the toys either). She had lots of new people to talk to, and saw quite a few people she knew already. Had a weird experience getting dissed by an 8 year old and acted weird for about an hour after, but worked it out in her own way and was back to normal soon. She got a bunch of free stuff for being cute and the kid of a Faire worker (free rides on swings, marbles, pottery charms).
husband didn't want to take her because he's been so stressed out, but in the end he didn't throw a fit about her either. Yay! SHe prooved she could go and act decent. I had originally planned on not going 2nd and 4th weekend, but she did so well I'm going this weekend as well (2nd). And, one of my friends said she'd watch her in the late evening so we could go have some fun on site with our party friends. Last weekend I stayed in the tent while husband went off. THis weekend we'll be able to go out together and be adults.
And to top it all off, my brother and his girlfriend agreed to watch her for the 3rd (my birthday) and 5th weekend so I can go with husband and we can really have fun and relax (and work more hours since we'll be able to overlap schedules).
Nothing at home has changed attitude wise, but this is an amazingly huge improvement. To actually be able to go enjoy ourselves, share something with her that we love and have her be manageable.