Did you ever have one of those days?

Actually I mean, did your kids ever have of those days? Ya know, one of those days where they act so different than normal? One of those days when you start wonder if this is still the same kid? One of those days when you are ready to find a good military boarding school?

Today has been one of those days for me or actually for my 4 year old. I checked, and there is no full moon tonight, but something has definitely gotten into my 4 year old. It started with his dentist appointment this morning. Usually he loves going to the dentist. He loves showing off his teeth. He loves the big chair. He loves the sunglasses. He loves the prizes. Today he wouldn't sit in the chair. He refused to wear the paper bib (and then later complained because his shirt got wet). He didn't want to open his mouth. He started crying and carrying on. After about 30 minutes and lots of persuasion, he finally got his teeth cleaned. I didn't even attempt the fluoride treatment.

After the dentist, I had to stop by Rite aid right next door. Again my 4 year old acted up. I grabbed him by both arms and got face to him and told him, in my sternest voice, to behave. (Apparently I wasn't very intimidating because his attitude didn't change much.) I looked up and noticed that a woman walking on the sidewalk had turned around to look at us. I was already fed up from the dentist office so I had no patience left for her. I looked at her and said, "what?" Luckily she took the hint and decided to mind her own business and walked away. I'm not really what I would have done if she had responded. I'm not much for confrontation. But really, give us moms a break! It's hard enough taking care of the kids besides having to worry about everyone else on the sidewalk!

When we got home, the 4 year old had a time out and then a discussion about how to behave at the dentist. He apologized and agreed not to do it again. In this case maybe I should have been more general. I'm afraid when I said that is not how to behave at the dentist he may not have understood my point because today at swimming lessons was 100 times worse.

We arrived about 5 minutes before class started. Both kids were hanging around the pool. Then it was time to get in the pool. I told my 4 year old to take off his sandals. He took them off and then said he was "itchy" and couldn't go in the pool. I looked and there was nothing wrong. He still refused to go in the pool. I was mad! I took him to the locker room for a time out and a lecture. He still refused and started crying and a full blown temper tantrum took place. I told him if he didn't want to go int he pool he would have to stand in the corner until his brother was done with his swimming class. So he stood there and cried and kicked and screamed and came over to where i was sitting every 5 minutes. I had to carry him back to the corner and he even scratched my neck and face. It was the worst 30 minutes of my entire life. I cried all the way home.

This is not my son. My son is a good swimmer. He loves the pool. He loves swimming lessons. He was the best swimmer in his class for the last session and one of the top for this session. He loves the dentist office. He doesn't throw tantrums. Whoever has taken my real son and put this impostor in his place, please, PLEASE return him immediately. I'm begging you!

Not a Good Day

You know you are having a bad day when what usually seems like a small thing sets you off. I'm probably in a bad mood because of a "discussion" I had with my husband last night. I went to bed upset.

Earlier that night I boiled water and was planning to make iced tea. When the water boiled, I put the tea bags in. And it stayed like that until my husband left for work and the kids left for school this morning. Then I started to clean up the kitchen. I got a pitcher to pour the tea into. While I was pouring it, I thought I saw something on the top of the tea. Was it a small bug that just went into the pitcher??? I looked but couldn't find it. I thought I'm never going to want to drink this if I'm always wondering if a bug is in it. So I dumped out the tea that was already in the pitcher. I rinsed out the pitcher and figured I could still drink the rest of the tea, right? So I poured the rest into the pitcher. Then I started looking at it and wondering, "could there be another bug in there?" So I looked at the tea in the pitcher and the empty pot for a few minutes. Then I dumped it all out. I know I'll never drink that tea. I'll never get the image of a bug floating in the tea out of my mind. Now I'm starting to wonder if I can ever drink iced tea again! *sigh*



Today was also my kindergartner's last day of school. I heard that on the last day of school the moms blow bubbles and clap as the kids walk out of the school. So I went with bubbles and my camera. I took a few pictures and blew some bubbles. Then my son wanted to show me the ants he had found on the playground. I looked at the ants and oohed and ahhed as moms are supposed to do when their 6 year old shows them an ant hill they found. Then my son asked if we could come back later and collect some ants in his bucket. I explained to him that we had a lot of things to do today but maybe we'd have time tomorrow or another day. That was not a good enough answer for him. He started to pout, and broke out into tears! *sigh* Have you heard of the saying, "No good deed goes unpunished?" I think the saying is my motto.



Somehow I managed to get him out of the tantrum and into the car. Then another tantrum started because he didn't want to sit in his car seat. This pushed me over the limit. I couldn't help but yell at him and he went straight to his room when we got home.



I have a doctor's appointment later. My husband is supposed to meet there so he can watch my son while I go in. Then I have to pick up the 4 year old from preschool. I was thinking about going out for ice cream since it's the last day of school, but I'm not sure I have the patience for it. First bugs in my tea then a tantrum... hmmm.... maybe some ice cream will do me some good!