We have been iced-in the last couple of days. Now keep in mind that I don't live in the north, where I'm sure they would laugh at the fact that the schools have been closed the last 3 days, and people aren't willing to leave the house over a couple inches of ice. When I am stuck at home for more than a day, I get a little stir crazy. So I understand that when Jude is stuck at home for a couple of days with me, he gets a little wild. Let me clarify - disobedient. We have been working on him not pulling all the ornaments off the tree, and I thought we were almost there. Then came the ice. Every time I leave the room, I come back to find him with ornaments in his hands. The ice has increased his orneriness.
Then I discovered the answer to my dilemma - keep him busy! He's bored, and with good reason. I am finding it difficult to come up with creative, exciting and new things to do here in our humble abode. But, I've found, with a little effort on my part, he's not as liable to reach for the tree just to add a little excitement to his life. We've colored (with markers!), we've had a friend over to play, we've built towers, we've read, we've watched Winnie the Pooh (I know, I'm a bad mother for relying on Pooh), we've played in the cabinets (well, that was mostly him), and the list goes on...
It's not easy finding new and exciting things to play, but I think in the long run it's necessary. For my sanity's sake. And the Christmas tree's sake.
