Child Care Update

Yeah, I still feel like crap, thanks for asking. But I’m so bored with talking about being sick, so let’s move on, ok?

What’s that? Yes, Pebble is settling in to child care quite well, thank you. This week she did two half days, staying until around 2.30pm – 3.00pm. She’s been eating, sleeping, playing and yes, sometimes crying. She cries a little when we drop her off, and cries on and off during the day, but we’re told that she settles well when reminded that we’re coming to pick her up “soon”.

Which brings me to two new favourite expressions that Pebble has been using. The first is “shoooo, shoooo". Here is a scenario to put it into context:

Pebble: Daddy?
Me: Daddy’s at work.
Pebble: shoooo, shoooo *solemn nod of the head*
Repeat x 3. Minimum.

I gather that the gorgeous Toddler House staff must have to use a lot of “Mummy/Daddy will be here soon” when Pebble asks after us, and now Pebble is using it as her soothing thought to get through those tough times. It’s like a little baby meditation. Cute, no?

Less cute, but pretty hilarious, is the “stop! stop” with a talk-to-the-hand action. I think this is taught to the children at child care to help them stop other kids snatching toys and pushing each other over. You know, the whole “use your words, tell them to stop”. I’ve been there, I’ve done that.

Pebble seems to think the most suitable application of this new found communication tool is when Mummy and Daddy are having a conversation. She plants herself all up in my face and says “stop! stop” with that hand waving in my face. Hilarious! But it so ain’t gonna work around here, little girl, let me tell you!

Anyhoo, I’ve got a date with a couch, a blankie and, when Pebble goes to bed, finishing off the rest of this classic (can you believe I’ve never seen it before?!).

~ Spartacus ~

Enjoy  your Friday night!

Mr Pontipine’s Moustache

 

This is Mr Pontipine, of In the Night Garden, one of Pebble’s favourite shows on ABC4Kids. You’ll notice Mr Pontipine has a moustache. However, in one episode Mr Pontipine’s moustache comes off and flies around the garden, making all the other characters chase and catch it. Entertaining? Um, no.

Pebble first saw this episode on the DVD that Grandad and Nana ‘Nette have at their house. Every time the episode got the the moustache flying bit Pebble would start to cry. Even from a very young age, I think about 8 months old, she has hated it. No biggie, we just skip that episode if we ever put the DVD on, and there’s no drama. We rarely see the DVD so I really haven’t thought about it much.

Last night, after our blissful day, I was in the other room while Pebble watched In the Night Garden on TV. You guessed it. The episode that happened to be airing on ABC4Kids was that episode. Pebble let out the the loudest, shrillest, most terrified scream I have ever heard her utter. There she was, standing with her feet rooted to the floor, unable to tear her eyes away from Mr Pontipine’s flying moustache on our larger-than-life TV, all the while, screaming, shaking with fear and going purple in the face. It was so awful.

I quickly turned off the TV and scooped her up for a cuddle. It took quite some time for her to calm down, so much time that I was starting to worry. She would half stop, then suddenly ramp up again, as if her brain had just replayed the moment over in her head.

The poor, poor sausage. Of course she recovered, and she’s been fine, no nightmares, happily playing with her Night Garden toys today. But, god, I hope I never hear that scream again, and if I do I hope it’s just as easy to fix.

What strikes fear into your little one’s heart, and how do help them manage their fears?