It’s been about a week. A little over a week. Yup, I’d say that’s right. I had an Oprah AHA moment.
Over the last few weeks, Will has had some sporadic tantrums. Tantrum almost can’t capture what it is that he’s doing. His teacher thought that he was going to go into convulsions. His little head looks like it’s going to explode. He screeches in a way that is not of this world. It’s really awful. Seriously.
And then, he just stops. At school, he had thrown off his socks and one ended in the garbage. At the end of his episode, he stopped, said, ‘I better get my socks,’ and went about his day.
I had a talk with his teacher and we just couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. I went home that night and thought. And I thought. And really when there is only one parent, it didn’t take long to figure it out. Yeah. that’s me. Right here.
It was magnified for me that Friday night when, after I said goodnight to Will he said, ‘night mom and I’m really sorry for being such a bad kid.’ I ran back to him and smothered him with his kisses and explained that even when I yell, I never EVER think he’s a bad kid.
There’s always tons of this…now we just need less of the rest!
I’ve written before about my propensity to yell. I’m a yeller. But this time, after I stopped crying, I thought about what it is that I’m yelling about. And I saw a pattern. Stupid things when I’m tired. THAT’S what I yell about. And like Will, I can go from the happiest person in the world to a raging lunatic for two minutes and then back to regular old me. It’s not acceptable.
So for the last ten days, I’ve been making a huge conscious effort. I really have. I’m taking deeper breaths and I’ve not become Mother Theresa, it’s just that I’m saving the raised voice for when it’s needed. When I’m about to freak out, I take a second and think about why. It’s really helping me to keep my cool. And in turn? We’ve been tantrum free for a week.
All I can do is try, right?
If you can do it, I can do it! I am going to follow your lead.
GREAT Post Sara!!! There’s something I saw on youtube that reminds of this. I’ll try and find it again and send it to you.
that picture makes my heart go all warm and fuzzy 🙂 i’ve been called out by my youngest as a yeller so i seriously need to stop as well. deep breaths for sure….
on another note which may be totally out of left field…do you think he’s getting his molars at the back? i think he’s about the right age and they can be hell coming in sometimes…pain, headaches, crankiness…just sayin’ just in case there is a physical cause as well as the usual growing up stuff 🙂
Wow. Way to go Sara! It’s so hard to step outside of a situation to see what’s creating it. It’s difficult even when you have a partner to offer an alternate perspective.
Proud of you for being able to do that!
I also have a propensity to yell. I have often found myself becoming enraged, to the point where I feel a fire in my belly an all I want to do is lose my shit on a kid.
But they learn what they live and as hard as it is – we have to keep reminding ourselves that we are the adults and it’s our job to model what we want them to be.
Chin up, girl! You’re doing great!!