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Perceptions: Jamie – Jam’n to Her Own Jingle Observations: Jamie is a 1 yr. 10 month old toddler with no sisters or brothers. On Saturday, June 29, 2002, Jamie was getting used to a change in the “family.” One of the two family German Shepherds, Jake, had to have one leg amputated. One back hindquarter had been shaved, and the area was red and swollen. He frequently limped in circles whining in pain. Jamie has always had Jake around and falls over him, hugs him, pets him as she trots by. Today, though, when she tripped over him, he squealed and whined in pain. In shock, Jamie similarly burst into tears, not understanding what had happened to her great big teddy bear of a pet. She runs to her mother and buries her head in her mom’s legs. On Sunday, July 14, 2002, Jamie is off her usual schedule. On Saturday, her grandmother and two aunts had come for a late visit, from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., so Jamie was actively entertained well past her 8:00 bedtime. Usually the family alarm clock, Jamie slept in until 8:15 on Sunday, 1-¼ hours past her normal wake up call. At 10:00 a.m., the signs of the disrupted schedule were apparent in Jamie’s eyes, still ringed with dark circles, and the remnants of breakfast, (Cheerios, milk, and sugar) spread about her chair. During breakfast, Jamie had taken an interest in the Tupperware sugar server, reaching for it rather than allowing her mother to sprinkle it on her cereal. Her mother allows her to put the sugar on the cereal and then seals the lid. Jamie’s interest in the container continued during this particular breakfast for a few minutes when she determined how to open the lid, strewing a light covering of sugar on placemat, chair, and floor. At 10:15, Jamie’s mother asks if Jamie is ready for a nap, since 10:00 is her usual morning naptime. Normally, she heads right up the stairs to her room. Today, she grabs my hand and leads me to her Playschool castle and proceeds to starts a game of catch with her large Winnie the Pooh beach ball, giggling and bouncing in overdrive, quickly flitting about. After a few minutes she brings over a book, but does not stay to have it read. She trots off in her unique bouncing fashion and searches around her toy box. Soon she finds another book and then leans against my leg listening and looking at the pictures. 15 minutes have passed. Jamie’s mother asks her about naptime again. On cue, Jamie creeps up the stairs and begins filling her crib with carefully selected stuffed animals and books – part of her normal bedtime procedure. However, instead of waiting to be helped in, she slyly slides back downstairs. I coax her back up the stairs by telling her teddy bear is sad without her in the crib. She quickly scoots to the top of the staircase.
Approximate Word count = 1968
Approximate Pages = 7.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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