The Inevitable Tantrum after a Fabulous Morning...
It's a beautiful day in Cincinnati, Ohio. I packed up the boys early this morning and we headed over to Kentucky. I dropped the baby off with my parents and took Soren to the YMCA. He played with a bunch of other kids while I worked out and then we both went out to the pool. It was glorious, absolutely perfect. When we got hungry, we picked up some lunch and took it back to my parents' house. Soren got to play with Granddad for a bit while my mom and I chatted and played with the baby. Then it was time to go home for a nap. Now, I realize naps aren't in favor among the three-year-old set, but it was still necessary today because they were both exhausted.
We set off in the car and both of my boys were asleep in a matter of minutes. I took the long way home, but as soon as I stopped the car in front of the house, Soren woke up. He was NOT a happy camper. He cried, said he wanted to go back to Gran and Granddad's and then refused to get out of the car. The baby was still asleep. So, I got the baby out, got all of our gear and bags out of the car and told Soren he had to get out and walk up to the house. He cried and yelled, but he did it. Of course the baby was wide awake at this point. So, when we finally got inside I told Soren to chill out downstairs while I put the baby down for his real nap. When I came back down, I told Soren he could rest quietly downstairs with me, or he could go up to his bed. He stomped and yelled some more saying he wouldn't do anything. I told him those were his choices and if he didn't make one, I would carry him up to his bed. He didn't make one. I carried him up the two flights of stairs. He weighs about 36 pounds, and this was after I did weights and a couple of miles on the treadmill. Needless to say, it was a struggle. I have almost no feeling in my arms and legs at this point.
When we got to the third floor, after Soren tried to kick and hit me, I put him on his bed, wrestled him out of his bathing suit, put dry clothes on him and told him to be quiet. I told him he had to stay in his room for two hours because he screamed, hit me and kicked me. I told him that if he wasn't quiet we would not go back to the pool. His father has a conference call that begins, oh, about now. His father's office is right next to his room.
So far, I haven't heard anything. He's sitting on his bed and pouting. He took off all of his clothes, for some unknown reason, but who cares? I'm sure it's because I put the dry clothes on him and didn't allow him to dress himself. Too bad, son. You act like a baby, you get treated like a baby. It's that simple. It's also pretty funny watching him on the video monitor. I wish I could record it and play it back to him when he's a grown up with children of his own.
Uh, oh. He's out of bed and opening his door. He'll have quite a rude awakening if he disturbs his dad. This would all be so freaking funny if it were a movie. But, alas, this is real life and the part I'm playing is MOM. At this point (while I type furiously to finish this entry before I have to go deal with more nonsense) I really have to congratulate myself. I didn't yell. I didn't say anything I didn't mean. I didn't make empty threats. I remained firm, calm and in control.
Well, I guess he thought better of opening his door because he got himself back in bed. Good choice, Soren! There's hope for you yet! He looks like he may even fall asleep. Whew.
In conclusion, remember this, 'Even the best kid is a pain in the ass.' My grandfather used to say that and it's very true. We're all pains in the ass sometimes. Kids are no different. It's just my job to teach him that other people will not tolerate him when he chooses to be one. I think it's going rather well, don't you?
We set off in the car and both of my boys were asleep in a matter of minutes. I took the long way home, but as soon as I stopped the car in front of the house, Soren woke up. He was NOT a happy camper. He cried, said he wanted to go back to Gran and Granddad's and then refused to get out of the car. The baby was still asleep. So, I got the baby out, got all of our gear and bags out of the car and told Soren he had to get out and walk up to the house. He cried and yelled, but he did it. Of course the baby was wide awake at this point. So, when we finally got inside I told Soren to chill out downstairs while I put the baby down for his real nap. When I came back down, I told Soren he could rest quietly downstairs with me, or he could go up to his bed. He stomped and yelled some more saying he wouldn't do anything. I told him those were his choices and if he didn't make one, I would carry him up to his bed. He didn't make one. I carried him up the two flights of stairs. He weighs about 36 pounds, and this was after I did weights and a couple of miles on the treadmill. Needless to say, it was a struggle. I have almost no feeling in my arms and legs at this point.
When we got to the third floor, after Soren tried to kick and hit me, I put him on his bed, wrestled him out of his bathing suit, put dry clothes on him and told him to be quiet. I told him he had to stay in his room for two hours because he screamed, hit me and kicked me. I told him that if he wasn't quiet we would not go back to the pool. His father has a conference call that begins, oh, about now. His father's office is right next to his room.
So far, I haven't heard anything. He's sitting on his bed and pouting. He took off all of his clothes, for some unknown reason, but who cares? I'm sure it's because I put the dry clothes on him and didn't allow him to dress himself. Too bad, son. You act like a baby, you get treated like a baby. It's that simple. It's also pretty funny watching him on the video monitor. I wish I could record it and play it back to him when he's a grown up with children of his own.
Uh, oh. He's out of bed and opening his door. He'll have quite a rude awakening if he disturbs his dad. This would all be so freaking funny if it were a movie. But, alas, this is real life and the part I'm playing is MOM. At this point (while I type furiously to finish this entry before I have to go deal with more nonsense) I really have to congratulate myself. I didn't yell. I didn't say anything I didn't mean. I didn't make empty threats. I remained firm, calm and in control.
Well, I guess he thought better of opening his door because he got himself back in bed. Good choice, Soren! There's hope for you yet! He looks like he may even fall asleep. Whew.
In conclusion, remember this, 'Even the best kid is a pain in the ass.' My grandfather used to say that and it's very true. We're all pains in the ass sometimes. Kids are no different. It's just my job to teach him that other people will not tolerate him when he chooses to be one. I think it's going rather well, don't you?
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