Comfort Zone

So, I am supposed to be pushing Kate out of her comfort zone.  Mixing things up.  Having new experiences, meeting new people. Playing new games.  Doing new activities.

Yesterday, after about 3 weeks of asking on random days, Kate wore a shirt that a) wasn't tie-dye and b) hasn't worn in 2+ years.  Turquoise with white stripes! AND she wore a coat that she has only worn once in a year and a half.  Well, she wore the coat for about 5 minutes and then decided she didn't want to wear it out of the house.  I am still excited about it.  Before, she wouldn't even try it on without a big fuss.  She said that she didn't want anyone at the library commenting that she was wearing something new.  Ha!  I explained that we don't know anyone there and lots of kids wear fleece coats when it is 48 degrees and raining.  At least she thought about what I said.

Today, I told her that I wanted her to pick a new spot at the table at each meal.  For years, she has had "her" spot at the table and would flip out if anyone else sat there.  She grumbled a little about how she only likes this certain spot and what an idiot I was.  BUT........and this is the great part.....she ended up choosing a new spot for the 2 subsequent meals.  A little grumbling, but it only took her about 3 minutes to work through it.  The flexibility is just overwhelming me.

Tonight at bedtime, we picked out some new songs to add to Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Ordinary Miracle.  I put it on shuffle :)  She was ok with it!

Here is my list that we made together.  Well, I had all the ideas, hehe, and she watched me write them down.

*Pick a different seat at each meal
*Park in different spots at BB and at home(sometimes)
*Use a variety of dishes (not just a certain style bowl)
*Do exercises in random order
*Shuffle bedtime songs, add new songs to playlist
*Choose a few "things"(animals, toys) to bring with us places and leave some home, give other animals a chance to see where we go
*Drive new ways to stores and BB
*Wear a variety of clothes
*Change seats in car, sometimes go without booster
*Go on dates with Kate to new places (she offered this one :)
*Wear your fur less often
*Wear different shoes sometimes (she said "But I only have 1 pair" haha, we'll get another pair!)
This one is for me- use left hand to do some things, wear my purse on opposite side

"VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE"    our new motto!