I normally don't post about day to day happenings, mainly because nothing that interesting happens in my day-to-day life. But I feel like this week is blog-post worthy. Mainly because I have survived it. I'll just hit the highlights:
- Monday - Day of terror with child. Zoo in the AM with friends, had to leave early due to refusal to mind (and it was stinking hot!). Fits at home, numerous time outs. Left the pool after 15 minutes because he was not behaving. Would not nap. Finally fell asleep but we had to wake to get to Lawrence in time to visit friends for dinner. Would not eat dinner at friend's house. Lost track of all the timeouts at friend's house. Left early from friend's house. Fight at bedtime.
- Tuesday - Another day of terror with child. Woke up cranky. Had a friend's daughter come play with him so we could clean out basement. Was a pain for her. Went swimming and again had to leave early because of fits. Another fight at nap time. Would not eat dinner. Fight at bedtime.
- Wednesday - A third day of terror with child. Would not eat breakfast. In time out all morning. Left him with husband over lunch to meet a friend (sweet, blessed relief) and returned to a relatively tame child who went down for nap without a fight. Threw a fit during dinner. Watched a movie. Went to bed pretty easily, probably because he was so tired from fit-throwing.
But then today, my sweet, precious little boy returned from wherever he had gone. I went to get him at 8:00.
"Hi, Mommy!" he squealed from his big boy bed. "Want to snuggle?" And on it went. We got dressed without a fit, ate breakfast without a fit, read books, played puzzles, no fits, no crying, no wailing, nothing. He was blissful all morning. I arrived at Bible study at 9:20 (he didn't want to go in, but he did so without complaint) and Daddy and I picked him up at 11:35. They said he did great. We went to Kohl's without a stroller (recipe for disaster) but he listened when we told him to come with us or not to touch. We went to Pizza Hut and he ate his lunch and quietly watched the cars out the huge window. We went to the Discovery Center and he played like a champ, even letting kids get in line in front of him to play the games. He wasn't happy when we left, but by the time we were at the car he was talking about going home and getting in his big boy bed. Which he did. Without a fight. He woke up and we snuggled and read books again. We went to Gigi and Pepa's. And he was great.
What happened? I have no idea. But I do know that this morning, I felt like I could not survive another day like the last three. But what if it had been like the last three? Would my reserve have held? Or would I have been like those parents who just give into their kids because it's easier? I definitely see the short-term appeal of that approach. But I also see the products of that approach in my classroom every year, and I shake my head and wonder "What were those parents thinking?" And I think to myself, "That will NEVER be me."
This is what I start to think about when I feel like giving in. So if today had been like the last three, I would have been disheartened, but I would not have let up, because if it takes my dying breath, my son will NOT turn out like those kids. He will not have the world handed to him, he will not have a constant attitude of entitlement, and he will certainly not be spoiled. I realize you should never say never, and that my own track record with saying never is against me, but this is for real. If today had been like the last three, I may have let him watch a little too much TV, but he would not have gotten away with any more than he would on a normal day. This alien behavior is NOT going to get the best of him. Or me.
Exhale. I'm done.
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