Play Group

I ran the third session of our playgroup today because our expert was ill. I was the float and three other mothers ran the groups of kids. Cut loose and on our own, we floundered a bit but made it through. There are times when it feels like hurding cats, and I catch someone's eye and have to smile. Ach, there is so much to learn. How to handle each of the kids, how to pursuade each of them to go beyond their comfort zone, to connect with each other, to work together. From Christy, who teaches most of the kids, I hear that they love coming on Wednesday afternoons. This is great. Now, if we can only develope the skill to guide them.

As the kids ate snack, we went over their teams for the day and repeated the rules. We are using the Franklin Peacemaker Rules and adding a few of our own. Aaron recited most of the Peasemaker rule but left one out. An adult asked which one was left out, and it was Julia who called out "Follow directions." I was absolutely shocked that she knew the school rules, listened to Aaron say the rules, figured out which one was missing, and could recite it. We all said, good job, Julia, but that was pretty far from how happy I was that she could do this.

Julia was one of the two who were the most trouble today. I did not lead her group and she did not know the woman who did very well. She was not awful but really testing at every opportunity. She did not listen, she did not clean up, and she did not always stay with her group. We decided to connect behavior with the reward stickers and Julia was only able to get 2 of a possible 6 stickers. Still, Julia played with Rowan, dressed up, ate make believe pizza, put a puzzle together, and made a playdough snow person family with Rowan. I could dwell on how she did not listen or obey the rules, but she did enjoy herself and genuinely tried to play with Rowan.

Gosh, we have a long road to travel, but we are on that road.

I also started using EFT with Julia at Marilyn's suggestion. Using a series of acupuncture points, a person taps repeatedly on each point in a specific order as they say and think about a negative emotion. The theory is that the tapping engages the brain to help clear away the negative emotions, making way for change in the behavior related to the emotion. This is a very simplisitc explanation. I felt sceptical when Marilyn first told me about this but I've found references to this system on both the attachment and autism groups that I belong to. It seems to be another method that does help some people.

Julia has been cooperative for three days. Today, she helped come up with feelings that she wanted to tap. I don't think she understands even as much as I do about this system, but maybe it is making her feel better about some things, and in response to that is suggesting more issue to tap. I tap on her but I am waiting now for her to take the process over.

I also am tapping myself, and starting with weight control. Who knows? I might be one of those who it works on. If not, it is a pleasant meditation of sorts.