Bad Day

Today was a bad day. Oh, so bad. It started with Adam coming in my room at 5:30 this morning and YELLING at me to make him breakfast. Time out. Then after breakfast, while brushing his teeth, he hit Grace. Time out. He then colored on the table with permanent ink marker. Time out.

We had lots of errands to run today. Bank, Ritz Camera, Post Office, and Michaels. Last night, Mike decided that he wanted me to make ornaments for his employees. I was just going to make the clothespin-nativity ornaments, and attach them to a bag of cookies. I'm busy, but I want to support him, so I agreed to make them. This afternoon after lunch, Adam was behaving a bit better, so we headed out. He was absolutely fine until we got to Michael's. He saw a toy there that he wanted and asked for it. I told him no. He immediately started throwing the mother of all tantrums. I kid you not. He threw the toy across the aisle. Started screaming, "I hate you, I hate you!" and kicking. He was SO loud. I don't do tantrums in stores. You throw it, we're done. I told him we were leaving. He then proceeded to kick and scream and scream and hit and yell. I put him in the back of the cart to leave, and he jumped out (this is kind of sounding funny now that I'm writing it) and ran. I grabbed him and Grace and started to leave. I managed to drag him to the front of the store (a kind store employee opened the door for me), went outside and opened the car door. He hit me again and ran back inside. I dragged him out AGAIN and pushed him into the car. He then turned and bit my arm SO hard I started crying. I was hurt and SO embarrassed and I didn't know how I was going to buckle him into his carseat.

Then, a heaven-sent couple walked up to me. The man grabbed Adam, and held him down in the carseat while I buckled him up. His sweet wife took Grace and calmed her down. I was bawling afterward, and she gave me hug, and said, "Don't worry, we've all been there. Lucky for 5-strap harnesses, right? Now he's stuck." It was the most PERFECT thing to say. I love little random acts of kindness like this. I don't know what I would have done without them.

Adam is pretty much a great kid. He throws a tantrum like this occasionally and the they ARE bad, SO bad, but they are getting fewer and further between. I talked to him the whole way home, and he is suffering some major consequences for his poor choices (he is most upset about no basketball tomorrow). We talked about good ways to express sadness and anger. He is learning. I can handle the tantrums (well, besides the bawling-my-eyes out part, but it WAS very stressful). What I can't stand is the looks I got, and the comments I overheard, as I took him out of the store. I mean, really? What am I supposed to do? The older (forgetful) customers said things along the lines of, "He just needs a good spanking. Mothers today don't discipline their children" and the younger (naive) customers, "My child will never do that. And did she just spank him? I would never spank!" It is rough being a mom in today's world. You're criticized if you do, and criticized if you don't. And there should be NO criticism period. Kids have meltdowns. They throw tantrums. I've seen grown adults have meltdowns and tantrums PLENTY of times when they don't get their way in the store. Why would a tired 4-year-old be any different? Ugh.

I love that song that goes, "You've had a bad day." On days like this, it's my mantra.

And on the bright side, since I'm NEVER going into Michael's again, I don't have to worry about making ornaments on top of everything else that I have to do. So sorry, Mike! :)