When Pyper plays with kids just a bit older than herself, maybe 3+ years old, I can't help but notice all the shin bruises on their legs, as well as the face and arm scrapes. But all of a sudden, little bruises have magically appeared all over her legs, and we also seem to be going through the band aids with incredible speed. She's definitely kicked up the adventurous notch and wants to climb up everything and jump off, sometimes asking to get a spot for a handstand on a high wall too.
So as she gets older, she's discovering the pains of getting hurt. Unfortunately she's also experimenting with giving pains too. This week she has been playing the part of the bully to kids young and old with no discretion. It's been frustrating, to say the least. I try to warn her, stop her before the action, but I can't catch it all and we usually need to leave the area immediately for everyone's protection.
I'm sure the stresses of the last couple weeks aren't helping her emotionally. It was an incredibly swift uprooting from most of the things she's ever known in her short life. I'm just grateful we have visited Seattle often enough that she's familiar with the people and place. I know time is going to be our biggest ally as she gets use to her new living situation and everything that goes along with it.
So getting older, at Pyper's age, means learning how the body heals itself and how to take care of it. When your 80 years older than that, you start to discover how inefficient the body becomes at that skill and just try to ease the pain. Grandpa and I talk more and more about his ailments. Everyday he brews a Chinese feel-better-skin concoction. He's seen 7 or 8 different doctors, all of which can't seem to figure out what is going on with his body. The only thing that seems to help are the old standby Chinese herbal tonics. He talks about how western medicine isn't aggressive enough. They don't know anything, and they don't help. If he was in China, it would take time, but he would be better. I may be lost in translation, but I think the hardening if his arteries is causing some pretty big issues, including but not limited to, his ability to walk now.
Pyper and Gong Gong comparing scrapes and bruises one night in the kitchen.
Climb high, do a handstand, jump off, get owie, do it all again? Sounds like you at that age… and beyond.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about time being a friend for healing and adjustment. Time, time, time and patience will bring Pyper back to equilibrium. Hang in there.
Sharon, I loved your advice and thoughts on Pyper and the adjustment of moving etc. "Time, time, time, and patience....." Our growing firey blue water dragon is a powerful combination of magic, precociousness and wisdom etc and will continue to learn of the boundaries and realities of her cosmos. For a little while, she might just need to practice solo. And she is Pauline's daughter by divine design, I am certain. I can't think of a more insightful, intuitive Momma for Pyper.
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