We then had a major melt down after breakfast when I was trying to get him ready for the day. I was frustrated with his crankyness, which has been building over the past few days. And this certainly didn't help the issue. I wanted to punish him and try to control the situation, but after leaving the room a few times and reminding myself that I don't want to parent that way, we finally got to the emotional truth of the situation and he began to sobb. "I don't want to go back to Pennsylvania, I don't want to go anywhere but to Scotland. I want to take the long flight to Paris, and then to Scotland. I want to go home."
I've been so homesick (for Pennsylvania and my family) this past year, that it never crossed my mind how difficult these six weeks away from his home would be for Jonah. He LOVES being with his grandparents and they are so so good to him, but these places aren't his home. And, after a month away he is ready to go home - I can't fault him. Six weeks is a long time to be away, especially for a three year old.
I rarely post a picture less post, but that's the truth of this post. We have no pictures of home right now. We're away.
Any suggestions on how to help a homesick kid?
4 comments:
Oh, poor guy! It's hard to have your life straddling two countries! Maybe you could allow him to escape back to Scotland for a little bit by looking at photos on the computer or making a list of some things he wants to do when you get back. Just affirming that it's ok to miss home, and assuring that you WILL go home might give him the security he needs to carry on where he is now a little more easily. I hope his little heart feels better soon!
Emily,
What about having a "Scotland" night were your family (esp. Jonah) can share some of your favorite things about Scotland. Make one of your favorite dinners, have Jonah draw some pictures about his favorite stuff, do some of your favorite activities - that way he can have a chance to feel like he is sharing his home with everyone over here.
Emily,
What about having a "Scotland" night were your family (esp. Jonah) can share some of your favorite things about Scotland. Make one of your favorite dinners, have Jonah draw some pictures about his favorite stuff, do some of your favorite activities - that way he can have a chance to feel like he is sharing his home with everyone over here.
I agree with those comments. We try to talk about Vancouver a lot with Graciela. Especially when we first moved. She really couldn't verbalize at all then, but I would just start listing the places and people that she loved in Vancouver and she really liked talking about it. Every now and then she'd say, "Mama talk about Vancouer." She'd ask to go back a lot and she still does sometimes, but I think just reliving it a lot has been good.
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