Such is life...

I like to stay positive in my posts. Do any of you have friends that post nothing but negative stuff? I do and think it's such a downer! But I will say I think it's good to recognize when something negative is happening and come up with a solution. So I thought I'd share some negative things that have been happening with the Spence's lately...

Last month some of you may have read on my FB about James having a sleep walking issue. It was happening nearly every night! Well I called and spoke to his pediatrician, she instructed me to wake him every night before the episode usually would occur (around 1am most nights). So I did that for a few nights and it definitely helped! The episodes subsided. Until last night...

When I go to bed every night I have a routine of reading on my iPad. So I was awake when I heard a thump and James talking nonsense. I went into his room to find him standing in the corner by his window peeing! Ugh. All the past sleep walking episodes he's never peed before. So I guided him into the bathroom to clean him up and change him. I could tell he was still in a sleeping state. I kept asking if he was okay but he had this look in his eyes and was not comprehending what I was saying. So I walked him back to his bed. When he got in he started laughing hysterically! I surely thought he must be awake now - but he wasn't! It freaked me out and I couldn't get him to stop laughing hysterically. Tried waking him but he didn't seem to come to. So I left his room with him still laughing. So weird. Ah what do I do!? Guess it's time to set up his 6 year well check up with the pediatrician cause we need to address this sleep walking issue as well as a speech issue. We've been working with his teacher who is a little concerned with James' speech. He still has an issue pronouncing the th and l sounds, saying the th like an f sound and saying the l like a w sound. Lots of kids do this but usually outgrow it by James' age. So his teacher just wants to make sure it's not a speech problem but just a late development. I'm glad he has such a caring teacher who wants to catch problems early!

So Madeline experienced her first confrontational issue with another student. No it did not have anything to do with her new glasses she started wearing to school this week. Actually she received lots of nice compliments on those. So the other morning while getting ready for school Madeline lost it and started crying to me about these girls at school. I guess the day before during P.E. Madeline was partnered up with another girl and they were throwing a ball back and fourth. Well the ball hit the other girl in the face (not sure if it was because Madeline gave a bad throw, or the girl didn't catch it right), she started crying and Madeline asked if she was okay. She continued to cry and ran over to the side to sit on a bench. I asked Madeline if she apologized even though it was an accident, she said she didn't get the chance to. Madeline is pretty shy with other kids she does not know well. Anyhow the girl ended up being okay. But at the end of the day Madeline was approached by a friend of that girl, she asked Madeline, "Are you the one that hit my friend in the face with a ball!?" Madeline responded "Yes, but it was an accident." She said the girl responded quickly and meanly, "No it wasn't." And then she walked away from Madeline. It left Madeline SO distraught! I think it confused and saddened her for many reasons. First how could these girls think she would purposely and meanly throw the ball at her face? Second what if these girls are telling others how mean she is? I totally understood why Madeline felt that way. Such is life. I've been accused about my intentions being mean, and I've also had negative rumors spread about me. It doesn't feel good. :(

I told Madeline that everything would be fine and to not worry about what others think. I said if she sees that girl to apologize to her and let her know it was an accident and ask if she's okay. Just be honest and caring.  Seeing that she was so distraught I contacted her teacher and P.E. coach about the problem. Madeline's teacher is also awesome, super caring and loves Madeline. Her teacher pulled Madeline, that girl and her friend aside to give Madeline the opportunity to apologize and talk things through. Right away the girl quickly responded that she knew it was an accident. And she told Madeline she was okay. Her teacher also reminded the girls about not spreading rumors, etc. When Madeline got home she said she felt relieved about that talk and felt much better. I'm so glad. I know this will be the first of many not pleasant life issues she will deal with, so all I can really do is help to prepare her with how to deal with them positively.