Yesterday I took difficult child to the pool. I let him know ahead of time I would only be in the water some of the time (my back is still bothering me a bit and I was super tired). He played by himself for awhile and then I joined him. A short time later the pool had to be cleared because someone had left a "present" in the pool. We were out for about 25 minutes. I went back in with him for a bit but he was being a bit of a pita so I went back to layout.
Later he wanted to play basketball in the water. He tried to join in on a game but the kids weren't very welcoming (he so wanted to play but didn't know the kids and they ignored him). He just waited til someone returned a ball so he could get one and asked if I wanted to play a game of HORSE. I said sure.
We got in the water and they cleared the pool again (we didn't even get to throw a bucket). Apparently someone had left another "present". difficult child was furious. He told me how angry he was and was really worked up-he was starting to really escalate and I was worried he was really going to blow!
I asked him what he could do if he was angry. He started counting and calmed down. We sat on the chairs and waited. After 25 minutes it didn't look like they were progressing so I asked difficult child if he wanted to wait or leave (usually when he is stuck on something he won't let it go). He chose to leave!
When we got home I told him how proud I was of him for using a coping skill and counting when he was so angry. He looked at me, smiled and said, "I'm learning mom, I'm learning."
Later he wanted to play basketball in the water. He tried to join in on a game but the kids weren't very welcoming (he so wanted to play but didn't know the kids and they ignored him). He just waited til someone returned a ball so he could get one and asked if I wanted to play a game of HORSE. I said sure.
We got in the water and they cleared the pool again (we didn't even get to throw a bucket). Apparently someone had left another "present". difficult child was furious. He told me how angry he was and was really worked up-he was starting to really escalate and I was worried he was really going to blow!
I asked him what he could do if he was angry. He started counting and calmed down. We sat on the chairs and waited. After 25 minutes it didn't look like they were progressing so I asked difficult child if he wanted to wait or leave (usually when he is stuck on something he won't let it go). He chose to leave!
When we got home I told him how proud I was of him for using a coping skill and counting when he was so angry. He looked at me, smiled and said, "I'm learning mom, I'm learning."
