Parenting question

#11 5th January 2002, 01:27 AM

Wols, you hit the nail on the head about "sensory overload." This happens in the evening, when Mom is trying to fix dinner, people are coming and going, Dad is getting home from work, and the house is chaos. THAT is usually when Baby decides to tear loose with a crying jag. Look at it this way: Baby really doesn't have the language skills to say, "Hey, turn DOWN that TV!"

A classic case of sensory overload is when you have been out shopping, perhaps even went to lunch, and you are heading home. ALL Mommies know about the screaming baby in the car seat in the back of the car, who cries the last mile and a half. :::shaking head in memory::: Unfortunately, Baby doesn't understand the words: "Almost Home." It takes HOURS to get the ringing out of your ears, from being contained in a car with a set of infant lungs set on "siren."

When we lived in quarters in Germany, you could always tell when the Active Duty parents were away on a big field problem. All you had to do was open the front door of the apartment, and hear the screaming and crying echoing up and down the stairwell.

Peace be with ALL of us parents!
~VOW

Wolseley · #12 5th January 2002, 01:59 AM

A classic case of sensory overload is when you have been out shopping, perhaps even went to lunch, and you are heading home. ALL Mommies know about the screaming baby in the car seat in the back of the car, who cries the last mile and a half. :::shaking head in memory::: Unfortunately, Baby doesn't understand the words: "Almost Home." It takes HOURS to get the ringing out of your ears, from being contained in a car with a set of infant lungs set on "siren."

Oh, yeah! If we have to go out and get stuff after Mommy gets home from work, it usually means that Noah is out at least two hours past his bedtime, and he will literally shriek the whole trip home. Starts crying as you buckle him into the car seat, and goes great guns until you carry him into the house. Thank heavens we only live about four miles from the store, and that we have a huge SUV that can sort of absorb some of his decibel output.

Avila · #13 7th January 2002, 06:47 PM

Fortunately for us, we don't have to worry about screaming in the car, usually he either shrieks & babbles or goes right to sleep. A few times that we drove the 3 hours to my parents house he screamed and cried, but that was at around 5-7 months, and only happened 3 times (granted it was round-trip).

Sleeping is going better, and you're right, I think he needs to unwind sometimes, and that is by screaming.

Peace,
Amy

#14 7th January 2002, 06:55 PM

Hey, when I am overstressed, *I* have been known to scream!

:::snicker:::

Peace be with you,
~VOW

ZooMom · #15 7th January 2002, 07:00 PM

You know, I've been thinking about the 'chaos' theory and baby downtime. I wonder if that is why mine seem to be so agreeable to their surroundings. It's chaos 24/7 at my house. My kids wouldn't know how to act if it was quiet and peaceful. It would probably scare the baby.

Of course, it's a plus that the little guy can sleep through anything. We don't have to worry about some inadvertent noise waking the baby, because...well...there ARE no inadvertent noises in my house. They're all intentional!

Praying for all you guys. You know, what you really need is a few more kids. Mine are for rent.

God bless...

Sandy

#16 7th January 2002, 11:37 PM

I don't think you'll get any takers, Sandy, on the Rent-a-Kid business.

I offered to TRADE my sixteen-year-old son for a cranky infant who wouldn't sleep. Hey, a sixteen-year-old does nothing BUT sleep! (And that probably explains the "D" in Geometry!)

Peace be with you,
~VOW

Avila · #17 7th January 2002, 11:39 PM

We're working on that right now.

11.5 months of breastfeeding, still no return of the cycles. Tommy only nurses 3-5 times a day now, should be seeing it. Haven't been charting.... <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT="

"> I dunno. Either one or the other is going to be happening soon. Kinda hoping it's preggers again, but not relishing the thought I could be big-pregnant in the hot summer....

Anyway, we do want lots of children; just taking it one baby at a time. :lol:

Wolseley · #18 8th January 2002, 01:58 PM

I offered to TRADE my sixteen-year-old son for a cranky infant who wouldn't sleep.

Y'know, Vow, I have heard that if you cut teenagers up into small enough pieces, they make terrific bait, depending on what you're fishing for.

I've also heard they're pretty good boiled or sauteed, but you have to find one that hasn't been living on food from McDonald's or Burger King----they'll send your cholesterol level through the roof.

(Heh heh....only kidding.....of course.)

#19 8th January 2002, 02:15 PM

Y'know, Vow, I have heard that if you cut teenagers up into small enough pieces, they make terrific bait, depending on what you're fishing for.

Wols, I wouldn't DARE try that, for fear of each individual piece whining/pouting/ignoring/demanding something of me.

When my daughter turned 14, I threatened to lock her in a soundproof room, only to be released into the world upon her 21st birthday. She'll be 19 this month, and she's on her way to becoming a good friend of mine.

I'm waiting for the same metamorphosis to occur between my son and my husband. <sigh> I think it's gonna take a LONG, LONG time. The two of them are so much alike, they are behaving like two magnets when you try to force the similar poles together.

Are you guys SURE you don't want to trade one of your cranky infants for a teen??????

Peace be with you,
~VOW

Avila · #20 8th January 2002, 03:42 PM

I don't think my budget could handle a teen! :lol: My infant eats enough as it is. No wonder he's almost 30 pounds!

He has a hollow leg that he keeps packed with milk and baby food.

As far as the son and DH go, my DH and FIL are so alike it is scary, and they are just now starting to really become friends. Even now, they have a lot of fights because they are too much alike.