J had been pushing my buttons all day. E has been going through a phase where she wants to be picked up all the time. I was mentally and physically exhausted. A had gone to bed early, trying to fend off a cold.
We finally reached the golden hour of bedtime. I told the girls it was time to go upstairs. E went willingly, J wanted me to carry herup the stairs. "I'm too tired to walk," she whined. (Both girls have been saying "I'm too tired to do XYZ" and then have miraculously found the energy to play.) I wasn't having any of it. I told her she had to walk up on her own feet.
Cue the hissy fit. A screaming, red-faced, tear-filled hissy fit.
I went upstairs to help E get ready for bed. I'd go back downstairs to check on J. I'd stand with my arms crossed and glare. She'd stop crying, stay where she was and glare back. It had transformed into a power play and there was no way in hell I was going to lose.
I wanted to scream and yell. I wanted slam a door 100 times to get all my frustration out. I wanted to cry. I'm proud to say I did none of these things. I kept my sh*t together and stayed outwardly calm.
Since she calmed down when she could see me, I went back into the next room and sat down to read a book. I ignored her, but let her see me so she could know I was wasn't leaving her all by herself. After a few minutes, she calmed down, came over to me and I gave her a huge hug and some kisses. After a big blowup like this, I always want to let the girls know that I may get mad at them, but I will still always love them.
She quietly and calmly walked upstairs to her room with me. I tucked her in, gave her a hug and kiss and whispered, "Tomorrow will be better."
We both got a good night's sleep and I went for a little run this morning with some guilty pleasure pop music. I'm still a bit worn out but I think it will be a better day.
Keep your fingers crossed.
No comments:
Post a Comment