The Family Room

Since Caroline has gone off to school Wyatt has been left with a less than satisfying playmate (by his standards).  There are moments that he just looses it with Hope.  He can't handle her "playing" with him...she takes his stuff, she intrudes, she sits on him, she is a toddler...all 19 months of her.
I have had many a conversation with him as of late that sound something like this...

Location: Family Room
W: AHHHHHH Hope Elizabeth No ma'am.  (tears - collapse on the floor) You ruined it.  You messed all this up.
Me: Wyatt, stand up.  You can't yell at her like that.  She is just trying to play with you.  Remember she is learning how to play with people.  She doesn't know yet and it's our job, your job, to help teach her.
W:  I don't want to teach her.  I do not want to play with Hope ever again....make her stop.

- after about a million of these conversations where I try to steer him back to her, to engage with her...I had this thought- This is a family room...FAMILY...where a FAMILY gathers together to engage together....so I have begun to say this.

Me: (All the stuff from up above but add) Wyatt, this is our family room where we play together.  If you need to play alone, which is totally fine and I understand needing time by yourself without anyone getting in your stuff or your way, then you can go play upstairs in your room by yourself - just shut the door so Hope can't bother you.  But if you are going to stay down here, then this is a FAMILY area where we are going to play TOGETHER and teach each other how to play.
Wyatt why does she want to play with you?

W: I don't know.

Me:  Because she loves you, and she thinks your ideas are great.  So, show her your plan, your idea...teach her to play your game.

It has worked.  It diffuses him.  He has gone up to his bed room maybe twice...but for the most part he remains and then will engage with Hope again.  Trying to teach her.

Just thought I would share the new thought I have had with regard to our family room.  It is just that.  It is for all of us...a room to BE...a room to grow and learn...scream and recover...a room to be FAMILY...