Matthew was in one of his moods today. Where he is the most pleasant child on earth as long as you don't cross him. If you cross him, watch out. He is in that painful stage where he could still really use a nap, but if he does nap he can't sleep until 10pm. So he doesn't nap and he is just tired a lot.
Tonight I unknowingly crossed him by announcing at bedtime that the kids were not going to have a bath tonight - it was already bedtime. They could take one in the morning. Who knew this would set him off, but it did. After much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth I took him in his room and dumped him on the bed, determined to deal with him after I got the girls ready for bed.
When I went in to "deal" with him he was holding a cup of water in his hand. As I approached the child just chucked it all over me. Water every where. I just stood there, dumbfounded. I almost laughed because it was so unexpected and random and I almost tanned his little hide. I seriously didn't know what to do.
It reminded me of the time I used to work at a mens' tie shop in the mall. Tie One on. My good friend, Wendy, worked there too and as we were standing there chatting one day a little boy - maybe 10 years old - approached. I asked him if I could help him find anything and he exploded at me. "No I don't need any help! What do you think I am?! A retard or something?!" Same feeling. Totally taken aback and dumbfounded. Thank goodness for Wendy, who never seems to have a hard time thinking of what to say! She quickly intervened, "What is the matter with you?!? Your mother lets you out in the morning?"
So Wendy, where are you now lady?! I just ended up handing him a towel and telling him to clean it up. He said, "I'm so so sorry Mom. But you just made me mad." I put him to bed without a real punishment, because anything I do now will result in hysterical crying, thus keeping the girls awake and grating on my nerves as well. But you better believe that tomorrow morning I am going to go retrieve one of his precious quarters from his piggy bank and tell him that his purchase of Nerds candy that he has been saving up for was delayed when he decided to throw water on his mother. And I will probably like doing it.
6 comments:
Maybe next time he makes YOU mad, you can use the same tactic! Imagine his surprise to find a glass of water in his face! So fun!
Wow! I am amazed at his pre-meditated attack! So well thought out and he must have known that he had the element of surprise on his side. Matthew may have a future career as a military strategist! Good job of keeping your cool Amanda. I think that cleaning up the water was a great natural consequence and taking away his "nerd" money will probably hurt enough that he will think twice before repeating the offense. It is kind of funny though...
Maybe he should wake up to a cup of water thrown on him. I know exactly what you mean. With these little ones you have to expect the unexpected. I think they're secretly planning to catch us by surprise and waiting to pull off something really big.
it's SOOOOO funny when you write about it on the blog.
seriously. i'm still laughing.
Kudos, mommy. I think you handled it well.
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