Last week I was patting myself on the back for having a pretty good kid. Very few in store tantrums overall. I’ve never been that mom dodging flying forks and absurd stares while making a mad dash to the bathroom with my screaming kid. He enjoyed helping mommy. Always happy to clean up with a little persuasion. This week? I’m ripping my hair out by the root and wondering God gave me Satan’s spawn. I suppose that is par for course for any parent. We all have our good days and our bad days. Good thing he’s cute. Damn good thing.

We didn’t get to decorate eggs today because we spent over an hour trying to get one room cleaned up. Me saying, as calmly as possible, it is time to clean up. Him commencing to scream, fall out in the floor or otherwise ignore my instructions. Let’s just say the time out seat was the warmest one in our house today. When you ask him to stand up now, he starts out squatting, rises about 1/2 an inch and says “like dis?” He then repeats 50 times until fully standing.  “Like dis? Like dis?  Like dis?” Barely stopping to breathe between words.  I’ve been ignoring it. I usually slip my hands under his arms and pop him to the top and don’t acknowledge the behavior. Now he has decided to apply the same tactic to different situation. When the fit throwing lands him in time out and hugs aren’t softening my resolve to clean up, this is when donkey phase kicks in. He suddenly can’t bend over the extra inch to reach the toy. His vision craps out, he can’t see which toy I’m pointing to. His brain freezes and he doesn’t understand what I’m asking.

I’m trying to think positive. Positive parenting. Is putting them in an exersaucer really that cruel at three years old?  Tomorrow is about reconnection.  Listening to each other, me being more respectful and hopefully getting the same in return (I haven’t been on my best behavior today either, my temper – and blood pressure – shot up plenty of times too.  I felt like throwing a tantrum myself).  We have egg dyeing and a bath on the agenda for the morning, so my morning is used up!  That’s good.  I think that’s good.

I read a quote the other day in a book: “I wouldn’t buy my kids for a dollar, but I wouldn’t sell them for a million.”

Dear God,
I haven’t yelled, cursed, lost my temper, felt like throwing anything, had my hair pulled, picked up food off the floor, had boogers wiped on me, had my nose and/or lip busted by anyone’s head, or otherwise felt like poking my eyeballs out yet today. But dear Lord I’m about to get out of bed here in a minute and after that I’m going to need a lot more help. I know you made him very cute for a reason, but don’t make me send him back. He is exhausting, trust me.

Respectfully yours,
Me

Comments

2 Responses to “dear god, grant me patience”

    Lauren
    March 19th, 2008 9:44 pm

    Rachel meet Aidan, Satan’s first spawn. No I’m kidding…kinda. I’m cracking UP over this “He suddenly can’t bend over the extra inch to reach the toy. His vision craps out, he can’t see which toy I’m pointing to. His brain freezes and he doesn’t understand what I’m asking” I hope tomorrow goes better for you!!!!!

    Jen
    March 20th, 2008 7:48 am

    Hahahahahaha- Welcome to my world!!!

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