This weekend Judah had an ear ache. This means that he does not feel well but well enough to still do normal activities. Even so, Judah always seems to act up more when he does not feel well.
With a plugged ear (as any time he slightly feels bad), Judah seems to scream more, whine more, and overall is more uncontrollable. You can also tell when he is out of sorts as he seems to jump from one thing to another in sort of a destructive, unhappy manner. Typically it is hard to keep up with him on these days.
Most often I am cleaning up the remains of one mess while he is into the next thing. It appears I have to anticipate what is coming next and be proactive in my response approach. I spend a lot of energy in this mode.
In spite all efforts to keep up, entertain, and avoid disaster, we still run into bumps along the way. At some point (and most often more than once) we have melt downs. I think kids do not know how to handle not feeling well and so act out in naughty ways even if they know better. Heck, even adults do this.
The question becomes how do you balance discipline with caring for a sick child? Even though you know they do not feel well, you still cannot allow this naughty behavior. Although you realize this aggression is frustration over feeling poorly, how do you manage or even limit unseemly outbursts.
Do you change your discipline approach? Do you not discipline?
This is something I struggle with quite often when he is sick. I have no answers but rather deal with it as it comes on a case by case basis. You?
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