SteelyKid had a check-up yesterday, and got three shots (chicken pox, MMR, and seasonal flu). This may or may not be related to her high fever and general misery last night; whatever the cause, she was not a happy camper.
Since she can't very well go to day care like that, I'm staying home with her this morning. I'm also leaving for the Sigma Xi meeting this afternoon, which is outside Houston, so I'm going to go from dealing with an unwell toddler to feeling like an unwell toddler as I deal with the air travel system. Whee!
In honor of spending the morning trying to distract an unhappy SteelyKid, a poll:
Choose only one.
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
Sometimes I get good results by letting the cranky child rest her ear on my chest while I loudly hum the "Transylvanian Lullaby"
(the theme from "Young Frankenstein")
Posted by: Tim Eisele | November 12, 2009 9:21 AM
Poor baby, poor daddy. Temporary pain for a greater good is hard to explain to someone who is very small.
Posted by: Lauren | November 12, 2009 9:31 AM
I would also suggest "Brrrrrrrr-ing! Brrrrrrrrrr-ing!"
Posted by: cisko | November 12, 2009 11:00 AM
Whoops, forgot that was the same bit!
Posted by: cisko | November 12, 2009 11:01 AM
you did also leave out "Badger badger badger" but I think manah manah is probably superior anyway...
Posted by: Brian | November 12, 2009 11:02 AM
oh, never mind, I didn't notice the theme.
Posted by: Brian | November 12, 2009 11:08 AM
I was going to say Cow. Cow. Yipyipyip, but then I remembered the Llama
Posted by: Spinny | November 12, 2009 11:30 AM
For a while, every time someone said "phenomena", someone else would respond, "Do doo de doo doo!"
Posted by: Michael H. | November 12, 2009 12:14 PM
One bat hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes two bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Two bats hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes three bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Three bats
hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes four bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Four bats hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes five bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Five bats hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes six bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Six bats hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes seven bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Seven bats hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes eight bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Eight bats hanging in the steeple
One bat flies in through the door
That makes nine bats in my belfry
VONDERFUL!
But wait, there's more ...
Posted by: becca | November 12, 2009 12:47 PM
My favorites for calming the cranky kid were Great Green Gobs of Greasey Grimey Gopher Guts, alternated with the fight song of Dad's Big Ten alma mater.
Posted by: mdiehl | November 12, 2009 2:03 PM
Michael H that goes back to either Sesame Street or the Muppet Show depending on your age. I remember it from the 70s, but youtube has many versions including a couple with adult actors who were children in the 70s so it appears to have had a long run.
Posted by: katydid13 | November 12, 2009 4:58 PM
Laudanum would the the traditional approach. Handy for all sorts of childcare issues. Miserable, cranky kids who fuss and nod but won't quite fall asleep, etc. A baby dose and it is off to Sleepyland. Diphenhydramine is a weak imitation but it works and it is safer.
[Insert usual boilerplate warnings for correct dosing, contraindications, possible dependence, need to consult a doctor is condition gets worse, etc, here]
I know, y'all are aghast that anyone would drug a child. But it is infinitely better than making the kid suffer while silently building frustrations and resentments that your going to take out on them passive-aggressively later in life.
Let's face facts here, when we, as adults, feel miserable it is a great relief to be able to just sleep through it and wake up feeling better. Occasional use of the safer end of pharmacology is a great comfort to us. So why is it a good thing to withhold it from our children. Or is withholding comfort from your child another way of both working off and add more passive-aggressive frustration?
Posted by: Art | November 12, 2009 5:26 PM
Manah manah works beyond the toddler age as well - my kids (age 3 and 6) love it.
Posted by: Natalie | November 12, 2009 6:54 PM
It is bad advice to give your kid diphenhydramine. It makes adults sleepy; the more typical reaction by toddlers is the exact opposite -- it makes them excited and cranky. We've had good luck with children's ibuprofen for fevers. Other than than, you just have to wait it out.
Posted by: GF | November 13, 2009 11:34 PM