Take discipline for example...half the time I feel like we let Charlie get away with murder; the other half the time I feel like our expectations are way too high for a two year old. Unsure what to do, Jason and I decided that maybe this means we're striking a happy medium and are right on track...maybe?
Then you have the life and death decisions that we suffered through yesterday:
1 - What do you do when your 2 year old needs to be soothed to sleep for the 4th time at 3:30 in the morning?
- Sleep deprived decision: Scoop him up and bring him into your bed without consulting your sleeping husband, resulting in three lost hours of sleep, but the bliss of cuddling in bed with your favorite boys
- Verdict: So-so decision, no real decision making process to speak of
2 - What do you do when your 2 year old has no temperature but just isn't himself?
- Selfish decision: Check your calendar, realize that your Monday is meeting-free and you finished your reports on Friday, so keep him home for the day -- during which he barely leaves the couch and spikes a fever in the evening...
- Verdict: Right decision; seriously questionable decision making process
3 - What do you do when your 2 year old who never has a fever spikes a fever of 103 at 7:00 in the evening?
- Lack of decision: Consult the internet which tells you that at 103 you should call the doctor if the child is exhibiting any other strange symptoms (i.e. coughing, nausea, diarrhea, lack of appetite). Consult the Daddy to determine whether sleepiness at almost bedtime on a sick day is "strange" and whether or not refusal to eat dinner is "strange" or merely a result of too many orange slice candies... Agree to see if he'll eat anything else and take his temperature in 30 minutes, at which time it is down a full degree (likely due to the additional orange slices he agreed to eat).
- Verdict: Right decision; lucky decision making process (because had it been the wrong decision his fever could have continued going up causing brain damage or worse...yes, I spent too much time on the internet on this particular topic...)
4 - What do you do when your 2 year old who was very sick Monday greets Tuesday morning by jumping up and down in his crib and telling you that he wants to stay home and "rest" while chasing Louie up and down the sofa?
- Self-preservation decision: Send him to school to burn off some energy while you complete a little bit of house, church and work-work, but let the teachers know they can call you if he takes a turn for the worse. Five hours later: flower beds are weeded, sheets are in the dryer, Ladies Event communication is out, competitive report is started and naps are in full swing at school.
- Verdict: Right decision; decision making process? who knows...
So, overall I have determined that more often than not Jason and I seem to luck and/or default into the right decision, but while our overall decision making process may not be perfect, we definitley do our best, and to date, Charlie seems none the worse for wear.
Feeling Crummy...
Daddy makes everything better!
