Thursday, December 14, 2017

I Love Mom

Henry threw a huge fit at lunch time today. One of those fits where they just scream at you no matter what you say or how calm you say it. 

The kind where if you just walk away, they follow you so you can better hear their screams. 

The kind where he tells you what’s wrong but when you suggest a solution, he screams harder because how dare you minimize his anger. 

The kind where you try to pick them up, they scream at you for suggesting such a horrifying idea and then scream at you to “PICK UP!!!” 

Luckily, my patience was at its peak. Otherwise, he may have ended up being tossed outside and told to fend for himself for awhile. 

So, back to the fit. It was right before lunch, so hunger was no doubt playing a role. And he was mad. Seeing-nothing-but-red mad. So, instead of forcing the high chair, we just sat down at the table and started eating. I sat right next to him to make sure he stayed put and ate and every time I got up to get him something else, he followed me. 

About 3/4 the way through lunch when the anger had drained out of him and the lunch had filled his belly, he was making silly noises and I was repeating those noises. He’d crack up every time I copied him. 



I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and said, “Oh Henry, I love you.” And without skipping a beat, without being prompted or asked, he said, “I love Mom.” 

I love Mom … this is the first time he’s ever uttered those words without being asked to do so first. 


It melted me and at just the right moment. 

Friday, December 1, 2017

I did, but I didn't



Scene: Grace comes running downstairs screaming that Claire kicked her. 

Me: (Ugh) Claire, because you kicked your sister when you were supposed to be cleaning your room, we are skipping our Harry Potter reading time tonight. 

Claire: WHAT!?! I didn't kick her. 

Grace: Yes you did!!

Claire: No I didn't! How do you know she's not lying? I stretched my foot out and she was just in the way. 

Me: So, you did kick her. 

Claire: I did not! 

Me: But you just said you accidentally did. 

Claire: I was lying then. 

Me: So, either way you’re lying. 

Claire: No. (**know-it-all tone*) Actually, I’m right either way. I did kick her AND I didn’t kick her. 

Me: *dumbfounded look*

Claire: You see, I stretched my leg out to try to kick her, but I didn’t. 

Me: So, you did try to kick your sister? 


Claire: Yes, but I didn’t actually kick her. I tried. But I didn’t. What’s wrong with that?