Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And here I thought my son was going to be Sportacus for Halloween. Boy, was I wrong.
That’s the thing about temper tantrums. You never know when they’re coming or what will cause them, but when they hit, everyone knows it. Tonight, we took the children to Wal-Mart, where they were having a big Halloween party for kids, passing out candy, yada, yada.
Eli was fine all day, until we got there. I don’t know if he thought he was going to an actual party when we put him in his costume, and he was just really peeved when we stopped at the Wal-Mart or what. It started with, “Mommy! HOOOOOLD MEEEEE!” Even though Eli is skinny, he still weighs 36 pounds. That’s difficult to lug around the store. He refused to say trick-or-treat to any of the spooky Wal-Mart employees passing out candy, much less thank you.
I decided to go ahead and pick up milk as long as we were there. (We supermoms are always multi-tasking.) So Eric took the kids while I checked out. After I got done, they were waiting by the exit with Eli looking very pissed. I asked Eric what was wrong, and he said, “Let’s just go.” I asked Eli if he wanted to get a balloon first. His response? “NO!!”
Okay then. I carried him to the car, and it was about that time that he decided he did want a balloon. Eric said no, but I was desperately trying to avoid the temper tantrum I could see on the horizon. I picked Eli up and carried him back into the store to get a balloon. The poor customer service woman was trying to hand out balloons while helping a line of customers who looked very impatient that they chose to shop during the Halloween festival. She handed me a balloon, and I thanked her and turned to give it to Eli.
His response? “NO! NO! I DON’T WANT THAT ONE! I WANT THE ONE WITH THE JACK-O-LANTERN ON IT!” (Well, f*ck me - his had a bat on it.) This is about where I reached my limit. I carried him out to the car screaming that he wanted a different balloon. He cried and screamed all the way home, and then refused to come into the house. We left him in the car for about five minutes before we decided we needed to bring him in before the screaming and crying drew the attention of neighbors.
Eric drug him kicking and screaming into the house. I decided he was ready for bed, so I had to hold him down while Eric put his pajamas on. Apparently, I need to work on my holding skills because he did give Eric a good kick to the jaw. We put Eli in his room, and he continued to scream for a few minutes until he fell sound asleep.
Was he tired? Cranky? Or just possessed by evil spirits? Or possibly all of the above? For the love of all that is holy, I hope to God he is in a better mood tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Jekyll and Hyde
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8 comments:
OMG, it sounds like you had one hell of a rough night. Those tantrums are sheer murder! I feel for you. I am sure he will wake up all cheery tomorrow and you will doubt your strong emotions that you had tonight. Until the next time! Been there, it's not most pleasant part of parenthood. Thank God we get the other parts that make up for it, though. Right?
oh im sorry it was such a rough night. your such a patient person! I hope one day, when I have kids, I will be that way too!
That sounded like an intense experience. It's always uncomfortable being in the presence of a tantrum-throwing child and I can't imagine what it's like when that child is yours. I wish you luck.
Sugar High?
Who knows what sets them off! MY six year old had the mother of tantrums this past weekend. It wasn't until it was all over and we talked that I found out it was because she felt bad for writing on the driveway with marker. I think I'm going to blog about it and how to AVOID the mistakes that lead to a six year old still having tantrums. Do what I say not what I do! I know how to be a consistent, firm parent but I'm usually too lazy to do it. Sometimes giving in is just easier but not in the long run unless you want a six year old that throws tantrums.
Damn. The excorcist comes early.
Hopefully trick or treat night will be better!
love ya
mo
Happy Halloween!
It’s A Blog Eat Blog World
Been there. I know I should knock on wood or something but it's been a while since I've been blessed with a good tantrum. We are now in the guilt trip your a crappy mom phase.
When did we exchange children?
That could sooooo be my son. He's the tantrum throwing champ. Sometimes it's kind of hilarious though because he kind of does this dead man faint about half the time. It looks like all the bones in his body turned to noodles at the same time and timmmmmmmmbbbeeerrrr! Off he goes.
Then the trick is to try and carry him while he's still in dead weight mode. He weighs about the same as your son, and let me tell you 36lbs of dead weight is just as hard as 36lbs of squirming, kicking weight.
Ugh.
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