Alas, crying's not finished, yet!

So after Oma has seen Dylan in such positive light for a couple of days, she gets to experience his crying / drama too.

SWIMMING FUN
On Sunday after church, we went to our usual Keppel club swimming. Dylan was of course elated and couldn't wait so I changed him first and he started playing in the wading pool first. However, as I returned after having changed to my swimming costume, I found Dad bringing him back. He had run off to the jacuzzi which is at the far end up a slope on his own! As Dad let go of his hand when they reached the kids' pool, he again made a run for it. So when they came back, I told him as he did not stop but ran off on his own, he'll have to sit for 5 minutes. He sat with us (my hand on his lap), and he didn't struggle much, and decided to eat a little with us. Subsequently after swimming with me using swimming noodles to the far end, he again tried running off, and did not respond to my demand for him to "stop", I ran after him & we sat down for 5 mins as his time-out. He accepted it.

I noticed that when I walked to the jacuzzi with him, and he's way ahead and pulling me & I stop, even though it's a place he's so keen on, he stops and considers a while, and backtrack to join me. Must say this would not have been possible in the past. Also, despite not having armbands, he's confident to jump into the water with me. We didn't film this, but as I stop and decided to go to another spot to jump, he goes along, and didn't struggle.

After we swam and soaked in the jacuzzi, and we thought for sure he would have a good nap when we went home and he has his rice milk, but he didn't after an hour. So I decided we shall all go shopping, since Oma had requested.

RESTAURANT DRAMA
Not too unexpectedly, he fell asleep (notwithstanding the noise) in his old stroller which has been tucked away for months. So we could shop easily. But the unfortunate thing was he slept from 6-8pm, and as he woke in a Japanese restaurant, he started crying, very loudly. He screamed his lungs out & wanted to be carried, and not allow me to sit down. He also pulled my bag and shove into my hands, indicating I should take it and go out. No amount of huddling would stop the crying, so I had no choice but to bring him out, and he continued the frantic crying for another 30 minutes. I tried praying with him/ for him & it didn't stop. I noticed unlike in the past, I don't feel desperate and know the storm will tide over, in his time. I hushed him and hugged his head to me, but I told him I can't carry him till he calms down and stop crying. I told him not to be scared, although we're in a different place, mommy's here, and that only he can calm himself down.

Finally as his crying ease off, I brought him to walk some stairs, to be sure he's stable. It helps greatly and he finally broke into big smiles and we returned to the restaurant. Though he didn't eat much, as the tempura ordered for him is no longer crispy, and we ordered something else for him, he looked happy and kept looking over the other table, and in Oma's word, was flirting with a little girl.

Then last night, notwithstanding a great time playing 2 new 24-piece puzzles and a nice walk with me and Oma, he again cried very hard for half an hour at bedtime, and only slept at 1am.

Oh by the way, I only discovered on Sunday that his headphones are damaged (no sound on the right). No wonder he rejects them. Got them fixed yesterday (cost $55 - ouch! but thankfully the Sennheiser service personnel are very helpful) and hopefully now the Samonas therapy (Nocturne) can help him with sense of security.

Awaiting for the storm to be fully over!