From time to time your Avdi will sit in a corner and stare at nothing. He will cease to respond to outside stimuli, and may curl up into a ball. There is nothing to be concerned about, he is merely moping. It’s not the result of anything you’ve done. The condition will go away naturally with the passage of time. However, there are a few things you can do to make it more bearable for him.
First of all, realize that it’s not your fault. Also realize that he’s probably feeling lonely and unreachable, no matter how many people who love him are around. Understand that nothing you can do can change this feeling. Try not to be offended by this fact – if you are, it’ll just make him feel guilty for feeling the way he does.
The trick to caring for a moping Avdi is to make him feel noticed without requiring a response or putting him on the spot. For god’s sake do not try to make him “snap out of it”. Saying “smile”, “go dance”, or tickling him are certain to fail to achieve their desired result. Also, as much as you may want to, don’t focus your full attention on him or try to engage him in conversation. This will just make hime feel indebted and obligated to make himself respond, no matter how painful it may be to do so.
Instead, when you happen to pass by him, give him a hug, or wrap an arm around him. If you’re having a conversation with someone, sit next to him and play with his hair, or just hold his hand. Since he’s probably feeling pretty worthless, complements can help, particulaly on shallow aspects such as his appearence which don’t make him feel like he has to then make an effort to live up to the complement. Distractions are good too. If you’re going to go somewhere or do something else, and you don’t mind his mopey presence, grab his hand and say “come with me”, and let him tag quietly along. Just don’t require him to make decisions. A mopey Avdi is safe to introduce to new people; he won’t bite and it may be just the stimulus needed to snap him out of it, at least temporarily.
The general idea is to make him feel wanted and noticed without feeling as if he’s asking too much from you.
sounds like the avdi instruction manual is almost as long as the “Care and Feeding of Plutonian Space Kittens” manual I keep telling Batman he must’ve misplaced…
::taking notes:::
good… there will be a test 😉
o_O well will I get a diploma in the end?
Of course!
…although, it really only qualifies you for Avdi-care, which is kind of a small field, with a lot of competition…
does it pay well? benefits?
well the competition is fierce I am sure.. 🙁
does it pay well? benefits?
Well, the full time position, with room, board, all expenses paid and benefits is already filled… but part-time slots offering hugs, cuddles, and free drinks are available…
are free drinks only during happy hour? hahha
They’re whenever I accidentally knock your drink over while staggering about… sorry, that’s a reference to last night at Kommencement… damn strappy pants…
*hugs*
*hugs and cuddles*
Apart from too little sleep and evil car problems, with which I’m sure you sympathize, I’m doing somewhat better today.
*hugs* if only the trigger to the mope fits could be recognized, would help a lot.
*hugs back*
I don’t believe there is a trigger. Sometimes it seems like there is, but it’s really just that a mope was oncoming and if one thing hadn’t triggered it something else surely would have.
So, what Avdi wants is acceptance for who and what he is, and for people to not have expectations of him as to how they think he should feel and behave.
something like that, yeah.
We misses the Avdi’s…we misses him!!! Hope to see you soon!
*big lame internet hug*
I miss you too. My one regret about not going to O last night (beach party? eek!) was that it’s been way too long since I got Kele-hugs…
But I’ll see you soon 🙂 *hugs back*
::waves and grins::
I’m glad someone else writes a user manual for themselves besides me. If only everyone did this, accurately, it would be such a big help.
Hope to see you guys out again soon.