Can I Get a "Do-Over"?

Yesterday was that kinda day. It started by one of my sweet chidren spilling 1/2 gallon of sweet tea on the kitchen floor and their way of saying they were sorry was,

"Well, you were gonna mop anyway, right?!"

Yes, it was Dylan. He is the master of sarcasm lately, and it is driving me bonkers. Then, I got complaints when I decided we would go to the pool. Who doesn't like the pool? Sheesh.

It was the kinda day where I could not win for losing, we butted heads all day long. I lost my temper. He lost his and talked back to the point where it was completely justified if I knocked his teeth out of his mouth. I would never do that,  but I remember my Mom saying that to me when I was little. (*gasp!)  Could it be that I too was a sarcastic, dry, smart allecky 10 year old at one point? Dylan is sooo much like his Daddy, but he got some qualities from me too.  Does this child look like he could drive anyone crazy?

I love this sweet face. Dylan really is the most sensitive and tender-hearted child I have ever met. He is also extremely pensive, perceptive and wise beyond his years. Today, he was less sweet, and more like this...

He tested me in everyway possible, and I have to admit that I did not handle things in the best way. I got frustrated several times. Even hollered. He called me "grumpy", and I knew I was. Bad Mommy Award goes to me.

I could've handled things differently, but I was having a bad day. We needed to have a talk.One-on-one. I asked him why I have had to correct his behavior over and over and over again today. Dylan says,

"I am very sensitive to feelings and when you are scared, I am scared and when you are grumpy, I am grumpy. And when you are nervous, I am nervous and then I act that way"

Let's see.....this is all I was thinking about yesterday, so yes I guess you could say I was not in the best spirits either.

• I am scared about the house not selling.
• I am grumpy about the pitiful offer the relocation company gave us.
• I am nervous about the possibility of Chris having to be away from his family for longer than we thought.

So, Dylan and I talked more, and we made a pact that today would be a better day. I feel better today. I feel thankful that I have this week to spend with the kids.

Next week, I start Internal Med and it will be a very trying couple of months. I need to enjoy this time with them now, and worry less. Dylan was still punished for his behavior, and I am sure he will miss his XBOX360 dearly, but in the meantime we will be spending time together and I think that is what he needed most anyway.

Kids can teach their parents a lesson at times. We just need to listen. While, I can't have a "do-over" for yesterday, I can promise that today will be a better day.

While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. ~Angela Schwindt