Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
I’m beginning to see a pattern on what provokes new anger issues after a stroke –
- the need for quick actions (such as ‘turn here!” or “stop! You’re going to hit the ____.”
- the need to decide which of two things the person wants.
As we recognize patterns, we can alter our OWN behavior. It’s better to miss the turn and have to turn around and go back, for example. (You DO have to yell ‘STOP!” to avoid hitting things, though.) It’s better to just ask if the person wants to do one thing, rather than ask which of two things is preferred. Still hoping the anger issues will fade with time, but I’m learning how to deal with things better.
I’m delighting, once again, that we have SUCH GREAT pets to enjoy.
Amber
Example – Amber, our 94-pound yellow lab, LOVES to play her version of ‘FETCH.” This entails her bringing her spit-covered whatever toy to you, trying to put it and her head into your lap. When you try to deter this, she tries to climb up into the chair with you, eyes sparkling with joy. She doesn’t want to actually GIVE you the toy. She just wants to make you stop whatever you were doing, TRY to get the toy so that she can run away with it, doing her dog version of ‘nah, nah NAH, nah, nah’ as she goes, only to run right back and repeat. If she DOES drop the toy and allow you to throw it, it’s a one-time event. Today I added to the complexity a bit, playing with TWO toys. I would throw one, she would run like a bunny and grab it, bringing it back and refusing to give it to me. I then picked up the SECOND toy. She immediately dropped the first, eager to run after the second. We may HAVE something here….
Pixabay
We saw a whole bunch (gaggle/skein/team/wedge/plump?) of beautiful geese on the ground on a big wide lawn of a home we pass on the way to town. There were at least 20 and they were a wonderful sight.
Our son made me laugh like a loon describing trying to talk to an obnoxious man on the Internet in a chat forum about a product with which our son is involved. As he described the boorish remarks of the man, he became more and more animated, acting out what the man was saying. As I laughed, it spurred my son on to more and more detail and funny movements and expressions. My stomach is still hurting from the laughter.
I hope that YOUR Wednesday includes something beautiful in nature, some new ideas on how to handle a problem, and laughter so hard your stomach hurts.
creativeartworksblog 
Good to read, that you are enjoying your family, Linda.
I use to use two tennis balls to play fetch with Odin. Then he needs to come back and deliver no. one before I throw no. two. That works well here.
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You figured out a good system before I did. That doesn’t surprise me at all, Irene. Please hug Odin for me.
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Thanks Linda, but you need to remember, that Odin will become 7 years old in few months. Your beauty isn’t that old yet.
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Yes, Odin is a mature and wonderful dog, and Amber was 2 in March. Her puppi-ness does make a difference, I know, but it amazes me how long it takes me to figure out how to handle her better. She is one smart cookie! :0)
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😀
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Our Chessie used to be like that with fetch. Sometimes if we ignored him, he would drop the ball in our lap and run to hide behind a small tree or something, watching and waiting for us to throw it.
I was surprised yesterday to see a whole gaggle of geese flying north in V formation and squawking the whole time. Wishful thinking made me hope that we would skip winter this year. 🙂
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I love the mental picture of Chessie running and hiding. How cute! I don’t like winter, either, but I LOVE the fall. I’m really ready for this heat index of 106 (like this afternoon) to go away.
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I know. I breathing better, but I don’t go out in this heat for any length of time.
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I try to only do short sessions outside. I always end up overheated and it takes me a long time to cool off each time.
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