We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!

Yesterday, I decided to surf the internet to see if there really is something to clothing sensitivity that Kaylee seems to be exhibiting. If you know my child, you know that EVERYTHING is a huge ordeal, and while it always has been, things are now just so much harder and more exhausting for me to deal with since I have a newborn. Yesterday it was the seam in her socks that was the issue. After a month and many tantrums, we finally conquered her wearing tennis shoes, or so I thought. The problem began because I bought her some new socks. Apparently, the seam in these socks were just too much to bear, so began a whole new drama.

When I googled sensitivity to clothing, I found out about Sensory Integration Disorder, but still felt that this could not be the problem. I finally found a book named Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka. I went out last night and immediately bought it. I cannot believe I have found a book that describes Kaylee to a T. I'm learning that she is not difficult; she is spirited. And as apparent from her activity yesterday, she does not mean to be argumentative or stubborn. She is just strongly goal-oriented and must persist until she meets her goal.

Yesterday her goal was to create a bird house. I told her that we couldn't do it, but she persisted. She found two sheets of paper and stapled and taped the heck out of them until one stood on top of the other. She found a hook that had been on some new clothes we had bought her, and used it for the perch. Her problem came when she couldn't find any seeds. We told her that we would just have to find some when we went to the store. That wasn't good enough. This is what I found when I walked into the kitchen.

She had torn into an orange determined to find some seeds. Here are some pictures of her final masterpiece which is now in the backyard.





I am so thrilled to find a book that explains the reason Kaylee does what she does. It feels great to know that there are other kids out there like this and other parents questioning their parenting skills. I have high hopes that once finishing this book, that I will be able to use the techniques to have a more peaceful household.