Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Operation Thou Shalt Not Whine

It has been windy here lately...so windy that the sound of it keeps me awake at night. I hate wind. It sounds like an obese ax murder is taking his Cocker Spaniel for a walk on our roof. I can hear the wind slamming into the side of the house right behind our headboard. I'm getting a little tired of it. I mean, it isn't as obnoxious as the muscle car that roars up the street every morning, but still. After roaring away all night, the wind left us a present. This morning we woke up to a dusting of snow. I suited Becca up in all her gear and dragged her outside in her pajamas before 7 a.m. (that part was her choice, not mine. I would have happily slept in until...oh....7:30, if it were up to me.) She was not at all impressed. She bent down, stuck her hand in it and started whining.
You would think she wasn't born in Alaska. Although, she hated the snow in Alaska as well, if I remember correctly. We went inside and she warmed up in a blanket while watching Barney. Ahhh...winter.

*****
I've been spending a lot of time analyzing the Red Zone Level of Whining that my child enters the minute she awakens. She has always been needy and whiny, but it is getting to the point that I am irritated with her too often for the All Whine, All the Time thing she has going on. I am sure it is partly her personality, but I know it must be something I'm doing, or not doing, as well. It is pretty much the most annoying sound in the world to my ears, so when she does it I give her WHATEVER WILL STOP THAT GODAWFUL SOUND!

Starting today I have been putting my foot down. Trying to ignore it. Not giving in to anything asked in a whiny voice. Enforcing the No Whine Zone to the best of my ability (which isn't saying much). But, really....I am not sure she even noticed that I wasn't giving in. Or, it just doesn't matter. Maybe she just likes the sound of her own whine.

I, on the other hand, like the sound of my own wine. Sauvignon Blanc, anyone? Gotta go.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Zach is going through the same. I swear this morning I thought my ears were going to start bleeding from that gawdawful noise. We rarely give into it and still the whining is not waning... is it just being 2? When it gets bad we call him my Grumpy Bug (see www.nickjr.com/home/the_grumpy_bug.jhtml). Sometimes it makes him laugh, others it just pisses him off.

Joel and Angela said...

It must be the age and the stage! Luke does it too. When he starts, I take him to the steps and tell him not to get up until he is all done. He sits there for a minute and finally gets up and says "ll-dun". Then the process is repeated and repeated. But the walk to and from the stairs puts space between us. Oh...I still do it for the girls too (except they have to all the way to their room).

Anonymous said...

Maybe that's why it's called the terrible twos.

Anonymous said...

Your father says she never whined while he was there - she just needs to go out and find more worms, slugs, and spiders.

Anonymous said...

I'm right there with you but in addition to the whining, we're in full temper tantrum phase. It sucks. Just be thankful Becca will sit and watch Barney. Bo lasts about 2 seconds and is usually standing on the coffee table at the time.

Lysandra said...

Mikey is doing it too...I have just recently noticed in the past week that he is soo whiney! It's driving me nuts. I hope its just a phase. I HATE IT AND IT MAKES ME MAD. I don't care if that makes me a bad mom. I do hate whining. It pisses me off!

Tracy said...

"It sounds like an obese ax murder is taking his Cocker Spaniel for a walk on our roof."...I think that is probably one of the best descriptions I have EVER read. I am so done with the wind too.

Angie said...

We have plenty of whining around here, too, but more likely whimpering or fits. Ashlyn just likes to be dramatic.

She'll like the snow more when there is enough to go sledding!

Andrea and Ben said...

I got nothin' on the terrible two's, but I HATE wind! I think it has something to do with being raised in ND and going to school in a mountain town. Grrrr, wind. The grit it leaves in your hair, teeth and eyes. Now look, I have started ranting!

A Goldsworthy Note said...

Awww, I miss snow. The picture of Becca all cozy in her blanket is a great winter picture.
Wish I could help you on the whining problem, but I can help you on the wine part! :0)
Good Luck!