What Happened to the Theraputty?

[judifilksign]

 Theraputty is a really thick, hard to manipulate relation to play-doh that therapists use to strengthen finger muscles in students who have issues with cutting, writing, special needs, etc.

Sparkle was sent home some of the Theraputty in its container.  It was bright green, and she "hid" small dolls, beads, and other things inside it, then dug them out, just as we do at school.

Except Sparkle ate the entire container of Theraputty.  I find myself at a loss.  This is the kid that flat out refuses to eat the vast majority of anything out there that 's actually edible without a fight, until after a hundred or two hundred power struggles, it becomes okay to eat.  So what does she do?  Eat plastic green goo.  I am bewildered.  The stuff smells nasty, and I would have thought in a consistency designed to be repellent.

She's paying for it now, out the other end.  I'm hoping that the resultant unpleasantness will in itself be a learning experience.  I have tried to make it explicitly more so by holding the empty container in front of her and asking "What happened to the Theraputty?"

"I ate it."

"And why is your poop bright green, and hurts?  What is that green poop?"

(Sparkle points at the empty container.)

"Does it hurt?"

(Nods.)

"Will you be doing this again?"

(Shakes her head.)

"We only eat food.  Repeat that rule for me.  We only eat food."

"I made it into food."

"You - made it into food?"

 

"Yes.  I made a Theraputty hot dog, and I made a theraputty bread, and I made a theraputty apple.  My dolls did not eat their food.  I ate their food."

 

"You made pretend food for your dolls?"

 

"Yes!"

 

"You must only pretend to eat pretend food, or you will get sick for real, like today."

 

"Yes.  I will pretend to eat pretend food."

 

 

And I feel so bad for her ongoing discomfort.  Ah, natural consequences, there is no better teacher, really.

 

Comments

[mneme]

That is simultaneously incredibly cut and...gah!

Hopefully, she'll learn the all-important lesson present here.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

"Only eat food." (Crosses fingers.)

[mneme]

Yeah, that's the one. (crosses fingers). Including the necessary footnote of "making things look like food doesn't make them food."

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

*sigh* This is why those play doh type food sets that let you make stuff that looks like food but isn't have always made me uncomfortable. Not that imagination isn't enough on it's own (obviously) but it's just asking for extra trouble. Hope she feels better soon!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

We haven't any of those sets, and never have. For the longest time, Sparkle wouldn't even play with Play Doh, because she didn't like the texture or feel of it. And not this. Ugh.

[jenrose]

At least play-doh tastes like Poseidon's salty butthole, so it's not tempting after the first bite. http://theoatmeal.com/blog/playdoh

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

(Gags a little)
How did that not set you off in your current delicate constitutional state? (Or did it, and you decided to spread the joy?)

[jenrose]

Raw meat sets me off. But I'm allergic to playdoh, it's someone else's problem.

[msminlr.livejournal.com]

"What comes after is measure for measure,
'Tis not any god that afflicteth thee"

R.Kipling
[i think the title is "Natural Philosophy"]

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Kipling is always one of my favorites, and oh, so apt!

[mneme]

Close! Natural Theology!

[billroper]

Ouch! I'm sorry.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it maintains that "stiff" consistency, and is rather painful for her, I'm afraid.

off topic but also inedible

[callibr8]

Bill please check your front porch (or functional equivalent) for an Express Mail package. It was delivered around 10am Fri. Thx.

Re: off topic but also inedible

[billroper]

Got it. Thanks!

[needlewomyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Sigh. Ick. Poor Sparkle.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

This container, while non-toxic, also appears to cost between 16 and 21 dollars. I find myself really happy that school sent it home with her rather than something I spent that much money on.

It is rather like all those kewl putties you and your husband bought. You know, like the magnetic one? Only not magnetic, just GREEN.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Oh dear.

This is so cute. But, oh dear.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

When food is pretend, then the the rules we must bend,
And not swallow it; I repeat--
When food is pretend, then--I speak as your friend--
You should only PRETEND to eat.

[pondside.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh dear...

Well with the loss of bike riding today and the bathroom experience it will likely stick in her mind longer than it has stuck elsewhere.

hugs

[museinred.livejournal.com]

You both have my sympathy, though I laughed reading your dialogue. Been there, done that.

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

Have you ever had Sparkle help you make real food?