As I write my dog is under the coffee table, trembling in fear of the thunderstorm we’re having. I am charging my laptop so I can continue to work when my electricity goes out, as it inevetibly will. My toddler? She’s under the table with the dog. Complete the picture with the dog trying to hide under her as she covers her ears with her hands. I admit it is quite comical, but I’m trying to be a good mommy and not laugh.
We’ve been through this before.
I’ve invited them BOTH into my lap but they won’t budge. All I can do is talk soothingly to them until the rain slacks off to an inaudible level. If the power goes out, or it gets too loud, at least the non-furry one will wind up in my lap. And I will explain reassuringly to her that it is only bad weather and it will go away soon. That the power went out because of the wind and it will come back also… only to answer the same two questions again in two minutes when it thunders again and her (almost) three year old mind cinches onto the sound and my words of encouragement go fluttering away.
I’ve done my reasearch:
~Reassure them. Check.
~Hold them and explain it in simple terms. Check.
~Get them their own flashlight so they feel in control of the situation. Check.
By the end of most storms (like this one that sounds like it might slack off and not kill the lights) she’s usually calm enough to read a book or play with her pretend laptop - to be like mommy. But the next storm it will be an instant replay. And in Southern Louisiana in April/May/June.. we’ll be doing this a lot.
Since I can’t make her understand just yet, I look at it from the bright side. Once I actually get her in my lap I get free snuggles until she feels better. And those of you who have older kids know that this is the time to relish those moments.. because they grow up too fast. I’ll gladly trade yard work for crazy rain just to have her feeling safe in my arms. That’s my compromise.
I can live with that.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Three days of horribly loud, house shaking thunder and three days my bed got smaller as not only did a toddler come into my bed but at least 2 stuffed animals and he had to bring his own pillow and blanket.