I had a wonderful moment last week when after preschool, 4:6yo difficult child walked out of his classroom with his coat and mittens on and rolling backpack in hand, walked down the hall with his sister and me, out the door, across the parking lot, and then got into his car seat as I held the door open. WOWZA. This has NEVER, EVER happened before. I kissed him on his nose once he was buckled in, and shocked the **** out of us both with static electricity! OUCH! But then I gave him a naturally flavored/colored lolli to enjoy, which he was very excited about. Next day? back to the old tricks.
Usually, once I actually get him OUT of the classroom (which involves forcing him to put down a toy he won't let go of or put on his coat if he hasn't already), he does one or all of the following: drops his backpack and runs the other way, jumps in front of other moms and kids, hides around corners, plays with whatever toys he sees in the hall, races his sister to the waterfountain, lies down and plays dead, wakes up the sleeping babies, crawls through the parking lot like a dog, searches for every puddle available to splash us all in, refuses to get in the car or refuses to get in his seat or refuses to buckle up, etc. etc. etc. etc. ETC!!! Sometimes I just have to carry him and drag the little one behind me, crying. N's a little over 40 lbs. God forbid we three have to stop in the restroom on our way out--too long of a story there...
I have tried the little emergency tricks/ideas (loved the tic tac idea, but he apparently hates the flavor!) given so far, but I just haven't hit the right one, I guess. I kind of despair of the thought of dragging him (and people seeing me do it) until he is actually big enough to push me down. If I didn't always have little A with me, I could deal with N much better, I think.
Any words of wisdom?
Usually, once I actually get him OUT of the classroom (which involves forcing him to put down a toy he won't let go of or put on his coat if he hasn't already), he does one or all of the following: drops his backpack and runs the other way, jumps in front of other moms and kids, hides around corners, plays with whatever toys he sees in the hall, races his sister to the waterfountain, lies down and plays dead, wakes up the sleeping babies, crawls through the parking lot like a dog, searches for every puddle available to splash us all in, refuses to get in the car or refuses to get in his seat or refuses to buckle up, etc. etc. etc. etc. ETC!!! Sometimes I just have to carry him and drag the little one behind me, crying. N's a little over 40 lbs. God forbid we three have to stop in the restroom on our way out--too long of a story there...
I have tried the little emergency tricks/ideas (loved the tic tac idea, but he apparently hates the flavor!) given so far, but I just haven't hit the right one, I guess. I kind of despair of the thought of dragging him (and people seeing me do it) until he is actually big enough to push me down. If I didn't always have little A with me, I could deal with N much better, I think.
Any words of wisdom?