Read Online Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Claire LaZebnik
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over time, he would learn that saying words actually worked
better
than crying at getting him what he wanted, especially if all the other adults in his life waited him out the same way.
Already, within the first week, he was showing signs of progress. He was making some of the beginning sounds of words. He was
trying.
Pretty soon, Sari knew, he'd really get the idea, and then words would start coming like crazy.
But not if—as happened that first Friday in Zack's house— Maria was going to come racing into the room the second she heard him scream, and—one hand outstretched, the other clutched to her heart—cry out, “Oh, my love, my life! What's wrong? What has she done to you?”
“Nothing's wrong, nothing's happened,” Sari said.
“Is he hurt?” Her hands on his shoulders, she was scanning his face—apparently looking for bruises.
“He's fine,” Sari said. “He just needs to stop crying and try talking if he wants this cookie.”
“He's a good boy,” Maria said. “No trouble with
me.” Zack
buried his face in her shoulder.
Sari said, “I know it's hard to hear him cry like that, but it's really just out of frustration and soon he'll—”
“He never cries with me.”
“Well, then, you're going to have to start letting him,” Sari said. Maria didn't even bother responding to that. She wrapped her arms around Zack and rocked him, crooning softly, until Sari gave up and left the house.
Sari hated to get anyone in trouble, but something had to change, and she told Jason that when he came to the clinic on Monday.
“As long as she comes running whenever he cries, he'll keep crying,” she said. “And it's not just a problem when I’m there. It's a problem
all
the time, if she's soothing and cuddling him when he's behaving badly. All she's doing is rewarding the bad behavior—which means it will continue no matter what I do.”
“Should I fire her?” Jason Smith said. “Because I will, if you tell me to. Actually,” he said, “I’d do anything you told me to.”
Sari said, “Don't fire her. Of course, don't fire her. We want Zack to feel loved and secure right now. But talk to her for me. Tell her she's got to change how she deals with him.”
“I’ll try,” he said. “Maria and I aren't exactly in the habit of talking a lot.” His mouth twisted. “The truth is, I’m scared to death of her. We kind of keep our distance, take our shifts with Zack … Denise was the one who hired Maria in the first place. She likes her because she's so competent and take-charge about everything, but now that it's just me at home, I’m the one left dealing with her, and all that competence terrifies me. I don't think I live up to her expectations.” He tried to laugh, but it ended in a sigh. “This single dad stuff is all new and strange to me.”
So he was divorced. Or at least separated. Not that Sari cared. She said, “If you could just make sure she's busy doing something else when I come on Fridays, that would help a lot. And please tell Maria not to give him what he wants whenever he cries, but to wait until he's asking appropriately. We all have to be a little bit tough with him right now.”
“Cruel to be kind?” Jason said.
“Exacdy.”
Later, when they were shaking hands goodbye, Jason Smith said, “I’ve been wanting to say—what you've been doing with Zack is amazing.
You're
amazing.”
“It's all pretty simple, really,” Sari said.
“I know. That's the beauty of it. I watch you and you make it look so easy. But he's actually starting to say words. I didn't think I’d ever—” He stopped. They both looked at Zack, who had turned a toy truck upside down and was using his index finger to make one of its wheels spin. After a moment, Jason said, “I feel like I’m seeing him for the first time. You know what I mean? Like the real Zack is starting to come out.”
“All of him's the real Zack,” Sari said. “We're just encouraging him to talk and be social. But
better
than crying at getting him what he wanted, especially if all the other adults in his life waited him out the same way.
Already, within the first week, he was showing signs of progress. He was making some of the beginning sounds of words. He was
trying.
Pretty soon, Sari knew, he'd really get the idea, and then words would start coming like crazy.
But not if—as happened that first Friday in Zack's house— Maria was going to come racing into the room the second she heard him scream, and—one hand outstretched, the other clutched to her heart—cry out, “Oh, my love, my life! What's wrong? What has she done to you?”
“Nothing's wrong, nothing's happened,” Sari said.
“Is he hurt?” Her hands on his shoulders, she was scanning his face—apparently looking for bruises.
“He's fine,” Sari said. “He just needs to stop crying and try talking if he wants this cookie.”
“He's a good boy,” Maria said. “No trouble with
me.” Zack
buried his face in her shoulder.
Sari said, “I know it's hard to hear him cry like that, but it's really just out of frustration and soon he'll—”
“He never cries with me.”
“Well, then, you're going to have to start letting him,” Sari said. Maria didn't even bother responding to that. She wrapped her arms around Zack and rocked him, crooning softly, until Sari gave up and left the house.
Sari hated to get anyone in trouble, but something had to change, and she told Jason that when he came to the clinic on Monday.
“As long as she comes running whenever he cries, he'll keep crying,” she said. “And it's not just a problem when I’m there. It's a problem
all
the time, if she's soothing and cuddling him when he's behaving badly. All she's doing is rewarding the bad behavior—which means it will continue no matter what I do.”
“Should I fire her?” Jason Smith said. “Because I will, if you tell me to. Actually,” he said, “I’d do anything you told me to.”
Sari said, “Don't fire her. Of course, don't fire her. We want Zack to feel loved and secure right now. But talk to her for me. Tell her she's got to change how she deals with him.”
“I’ll try,” he said. “Maria and I aren't exactly in the habit of talking a lot.” His mouth twisted. “The truth is, I’m scared to death of her. We kind of keep our distance, take our shifts with Zack … Denise was the one who hired Maria in the first place. She likes her because she's so competent and take-charge about everything, but now that it's just me at home, I’m the one left dealing with her, and all that competence terrifies me. I don't think I live up to her expectations.” He tried to laugh, but it ended in a sigh. “This single dad stuff is all new and strange to me.”
So he was divorced. Or at least separated. Not that Sari cared. She said, “If you could just make sure she's busy doing something else when I come on Fridays, that would help a lot. And please tell Maria not to give him what he wants whenever he cries, but to wait until he's asking appropriately. We all have to be a little bit tough with him right now.”
“Cruel to be kind?” Jason said.
“Exacdy.”
Later, when they were shaking hands goodbye, Jason Smith said, “I’ve been wanting to say—what you've been doing with Zack is amazing.
You're
amazing.”
“It's all pretty simple, really,” Sari said.
“I know. That's the beauty of it. I watch you and you make it look so easy. But he's actually starting to say words. I didn't think I’d ever—” He stopped. They both looked at Zack, who had turned a toy truck upside down and was using his index finger to make one of its wheels spin. After a moment, Jason said, “I feel like I’m seeing him for the first time. You know what I mean? Like the real Zack is starting to come out.”
“All of him's the real Zack,” Sari said. “We're just encouraging him to talk and be social. But
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