And to think that her first experience with the sand and ocean started like this...
Before we left, I'd began noticing some reoccurring behaviors with her. Since she used to receive Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) I'm always on the look out for her behaviors and watching her fine and gross motor skills. After talking with my BFF Amanda (who is a Speech Pathologist by profession but spent the last several years as a behavior interventionist, working with kids with disorders of all types) I knew it was time to give Olivia's former OT a call.
Although I think most of her behaviors are certainly learned and personality driven (she's the new, reigning Drama Queen, remember?) I also think there could be some sensory issues going on. I say all of that to say that once Olivia got over her issues with the water and the sounds of the surf and the fact that birds were flying 200 feet above her head and the sand, OHMYWORDTHESAND, she was fine and spent quite a bit of her time doing this....
Of course, what you cannot see is that each and every time my sweet little princess sat in the sand, she felt the need to immediately do this...
What's that? You can't really tell what she's doing? Okay, how's this...
SAND.IN.HER.HAIR. SAND IN HER HAIR! SAND IN HER HAIR. Every.single.time. Do you know how hard it is to get sand out of her hair? I wish I could come up with an adequate analogy but all escape me right now so just know IT'S HARD.
Unless she was helping MeMe carry a fresh bucket of water (where I think MeMe had secretly lured her to the water to rinse the sand out of her hair)...
Or it was the 10 minutes that MeMe convinced her to wear a hat...
my sweet little Drama Queen had sand in her hair.Sandy Olivia loved wearing her shades...
and as her Mommy I loved the afternoon where just the two of us sat in the surf, collecting (and promptly throwing) sea shells and allowing the Atlantic waters to wash awaythe sand our cares. We sat there for at least an hour. And it may have been my most favorite hour all week.
How I love this little girl, sand and all.
What's that? You can't really tell what she's doing? Okay, how's this...
SAND.IN.HER.HAIR. SAND IN HER HAIR! SAND IN HER HAIR. Every.single.time. Do you know how hard it is to get sand out of her hair? I wish I could come up with an adequate analogy but all escape me right now so just know IT'S HARD.
Unless she was helping MeMe carry a fresh bucket of water (where I think MeMe had secretly lured her to the water to rinse the sand out of her hair)...
Or it was the 10 minutes that MeMe convinced her to wear a hat...
my sweet little Drama Queen had sand in her hair.
and as her Mommy I loved the afternoon where just the two of us sat in the surf, collecting (and promptly throwing) sea shells and allowing the Atlantic waters to wash away
How I love this little girl, sand and all.
Of all the pics you posted I think the one where Olivia is wearing her sunglasses just might best depict the sand probs you were having. HA! I love it!
ReplyDeleteOh and I also love how you're sporting two pairs of shades.
I <3 your fam.
Just the title of this post had me laughing!
ReplyDeleteyes, sand in the hair is a nightmare! this made me laugh though. grace does the same. thing. next time we go to the beach there will be a hat stapled to her head :) love the pics!
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your blog randomly, and got a kick just out of your descriptions of your children on the left! You are a busy lady! I particularly like how you wrote that Lucas 'challenges every one of the parenting tactics we've ever considered using'. We got one of those! Bless you as you mother your miracles!!
ReplyDeleteLove her little sunglasses!
ReplyDeleteCxx
Here, let me help. It's like trying to separate salt from sand. It's THAT complicated! Baby powder ROCKS! pour it on bend their little heads over and dust ;0). Works on getting sand off of ANYBODY and ALL body parts! New found love for Baby Powder! lol
ReplyDeleteGREAT PICTURES! Love seeing so much fun going on!
Oh, that is cracking me up. I'm glad she warmed up to the beach!
ReplyDeletelove seeing these photos. Olivia is a gem (as are her siblings). We too abhore sand in the hair... and the sandbox at our park is magnetic (my kids being metal, and all)! Blessings. We use a brush to get it all out, then wash and then moisterize.
ReplyDeleteToo cute. Love to read your blogs... I can relate in so many ways. Brailyn and Lucas would be our sensory seekers... sand in the hair being one of their favorite things. I think you are wise to keep an OT on call... they can give you wonderful insights into behaviors. Sometimes it takes me awhile to realize why a child is reacting the way they are...especially with such a variation in personalities...and sensory seekers mixed with sensory defenders...You are a great mom and have beautiful children.
ReplyDelete