Yesterday, yes --- I felt like Mommy Dearest --- and should have been awarded the Worst Mommy of the Year Award. The days leading up to yesterday were BUSY. We went away with friends to Anaheim to check-in with Minnie and Mickey Mouse. It was hot. Lots and lots of walking. And we were tired.
We got home late Monday night and even tho' Kristina slept in the car, she had to be up by 6:30am Tuesday for school -- which meant not enough sleep for our little angel. And definitely not enough sleep for me as I was up even later unpacking bags and up early packing lunches.
When I arrived at Kristina's aftercare program Tuesday afternoon, her teacher told me how well Kristina did working on her homework. "Very focused." Then Kristina came in from playing outside, gave me a HUGE hug and proceeded to run over to the sink with one of her new friends. When the teacher warned them both to turn the water off and put the paper towels down, my daughter proceeded to wet the paper towels. You would have thought the teacher spoke a foreign language, one Kristina didn't understand. When I reiterated the teacher's request....nothing. Even when I approached Kristina, she continued to play with the water and papertowels.
I calmly but sternly reprimanded Kristina for not listening when all of a sudden, she started screaming, dropped limply to the floor, and cried "I wanna go on the monkey bars!" (Usually a privilege for when she's been good. ugh -- yeah, right..) When I said "No, we are going home now" -- she lost it even more. Tears flowed down her dust-ridden face as she had a complete meltdown right there on the classroom floor. The teacher ordered her friend to go outside as my mind raced "Who is this alien pretending to be my daughter?"
Never before has Kristina had a "tantrum" in public. It was unchartered territory for me and I stood my ground dragging her (almost literally) to the car --- as she cried for the whole neighborhood to hear. When we got in the car, she screamed bloody murder, "I want a smoothie!!" -- another treat for special occasions. Yeah, right -- again.
At home, the crying/wimpering continued, even as I held her, rocked her, and tried to rationalize with a 5 year old about good behavior and rewards. I know she understood -- she just didn't want to. I could do no right -- dinner was too hot, bath too cold, I looked at her wrong, I picked the wrong pj's, I didn't put the right items in her lunch box, etc. Sigh...
But, as I held her close while reading a night-night book, she fell asleep instantly, even before Daddy got home from work. She was exhausted. Overly exhausted.
Today -- the aliens returned our angel to us! Life is good. :)
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| It was a cool 65 degrees last Friday morning...cool enough for Kristina to break out her pancho and gloves. It was in the high 90's later on. |
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| Kristina and her friend, Jasmine, were so excited at the hotel the night before Disneyland! |
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| The girls practically ran to the front gate! |
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| The entire park was decked out in Halloween decor. |
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| At the Happiest Place on Earth |
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| Giving me the Kristina wink. ;) |
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| The girls didn't get to see Ariel just once... |
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| ...but twice! By far, the prettiest and sweetest Princess of all! |
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| Today, Kristina drew a picture of Daddy, Mommy, Kristina, her brother, her sister, and her baby. Sigh...maybe she knows something we don't. |
5 comments:
Sleep is so so so important!! I, too, have experienced an alien among us. . .and it is always due to a lack of sleep and sometimes even my fault! : ) I guess we just have to live and learn what works and what doesn't.
Ahhh ... life with a tired 5 year old! We often have those days here and bedtime is usually early and the next day or precocious 5 year old is back to his normal self!
So jealous that you are often at the Happiest Place on earth!!
Hugs for the Pupeks!
Mommy Dearest.... hardly! Sounds like you did lots of stuff right. It can be tough to plan all the fun stuff around the school calendar!
Ah yes...the lack of sleep alien arrived. We've had him visit too. Usually on a Friday after a very long week. Glad to hear Kristina is back! Hugs from all of us!
Melissa
Hi Laura,
This post reminded me of a situation in Target recently when Cassidy was really tired and not listening at all. I gave her one last chance, which she didn't take and then her Dad picked her up and told her they would wait outside for me. She screamed the whole way out of the store, saying "I want my Mommy", "let go of me - you are hurting me", and "don't take me away from my mommy". Of course the spectators assumed he was a child molesting kidnapper!! Looking forward to sharing more funny stories in November. We love and miss you all <3
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