The boy is, officially, another year older. But the temper tantrums look suspiciously like the same ones he’s been having for, oh say… since he was born.
Today was our first six year-old tantrum and it was a humdinger. He was asked to go take a shower when we got home from his T-ball practice. He didn’t want a shower, he wanted a bath. We asked him several more times. Finally, I told the lass to head up stairs so she could get washed up.
There was a flash as the boy made a break for the stairs.
I commanded him to stop, that he’d had his chance and that now his sister was going to take a shower.
For whatever reason, not going first upsets him like nothing else, and his reaction was completely predictable. His face took on an anguished look and he started to cry. I told him to go help the Wife with the dishes.
He stomped downstairs and into the kitchen- balling the whole way.
Several minutes later he broke several windows with an ear-splitting scream that he wanted to take his shower before the lass’. She was, of course, already in the shower at that point. I told him to go wait in his room. More balling as he stomped down to his room.
After the lass was finished, he continued to ball while getting undressed. I’m also pretty sure that he was still crying while he was in the shower. For that matter, maybe he washed himself with his own tears…
Anyway, he eventually finished his shower, and his tantrum. Can’t wait to see what this year brings us…
One reply on “A Year Older”
The solution is simple: just let him ALWAYS have his way – and he won’t have any more tantrums ….
Of course, it’s hard to turn a year older and I’m sure the sheer exhaustion of the aging process contributed to his melt down …