So James' favorite thing about the trip was the fire. Helping Uncle Gerald make the fire, and tend to the fire. He really enjoyed it. He was always finding little sticks or pieces of grass to put on the fire, and if he was around, was the go to guy when it was time to put another log on the fire.
Of course, there were times when he had to be told to get back, keep his distance, and stop putting stuff on the fire, because he was making it smoke too much or was putting things on it that he shouldn't. His solution was either to ignore us as long as possible, until he got into trouble. Or he would be sneaky, blowing his nose with tissue and then surreptitiously throwing the kleenex on the fire. Or when he was eating, his plate would be 'mysteriously' get knocked over, so he would have to get more food and throw his first plate into the fire. He really got a kick out of the whole thing.
Sometimes James finds himself in a tough place. He doesn't want to do what the other kids are doing, and they won't do what he wants to do. So he goes and sulks, like in this picture. When I am around and this happens I keep trying to reinforce that he needs to make a choice when this happens: do what the other kids are doing, and maybe they will do what he wants later. Or he can learn to do stuff on his own, and then he can either enjoy himself or the other kids will see what he is doing and will join in. It's tough, because that is a good descriptor of much of my childhood. It is hard to learn how to handle it, and develop the necessary skills. Sometimes so much of what he does reminds me of myself. And when he is having a hard time with it, and Kim is complaining about it, all I can do is help him understand his choices. and help him develop the skills he needs.
So James' favorite thing about the trip was the fire. Helping Uncle Gerald make the fire, and tend to the fire. He really enjoyed it. He was always finding little sticks or pieces of grass to put on the fire, and if he was around, was the go to guy when it was time to put another log on the fire.
Of course, there were times when he had to be told to get back, keep his distance, and stop putting stuff on the fire, because he was making it smoke too much or was putting things on it that he shouldn't. His solution was either to ignore us as long as possible, until he got into trouble. Or he would be sneaky, blowing his nose with tissue and then surreptitiously throwing the kleenex on the fire. Or when he was eating, his plate would be 'mysteriously' get knocked over, so he would have to get more food and throw his first plate into the fire. He really got a kick out of the whole thing.
Sometimes James finds himself in a tough place. He doesn't want to do what the other kids are doing, and they won't do what he wants to do. So he goes and sulks, like in this picture. When I am around and this happens I keep trying to reinforce that he needs to make a choice when this happens: do what the other kids are doing, and maybe they will do what he wants later. Or he can learn to do stuff on his own, and then he can either enjoy himself or the other kids will see what he is doing and will join in. It's tough, because that is a good descriptor of much of my childhood. It is hard to learn how to handle it, and develop the necessary skills. Sometimes so much of what he does reminds me of myself. And when he is having a hard time with it, and Kim is complaining about it, all I can do is help him understand his choices. and help him develop the skills he needs.
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