Grrrrr, I'm sitting here trying to write something clever for my PhD and my head is just spinning at the levels of stress we've all gone through to start the day.
DS1 wakes up counting. He's trying to figure out how much money we spent on rides at the fair yesterday.He then started to go on and on about a lego helicopter he wants and we had to stop and work out how he could 'earn' the money to buy it - getting stars etc. Then DS2 was crying about nursery so I comforted him with stories of what he has got on this week (e.g. he has a trip) which led to DS1 screaming and going mad, saying DS2 was showing off and trying to kick and punch him.
DS1 was then his usual fussy self about getting changed. I had to use a towel to rub him down and sort out his socks.
DS2 is messing around and I have to leave him to try and dress himself (he's only 4 and I just have to expect him to get on with it).
Then we couldn?t find DS1's lunchbox so I got all the other old ones out to see if he would use them and he started to get worked up and screaming. I calmed him and we changed the subject to concentrate on getting everyone dressed.
But DS was not finding it easy to follow instructions so it took ages. We had to put the cereal boxes out on the table to show him what choices he had for breakfast as he couldn?t seem to understand what I was saying today and was getting stressed.
All dressed eventually (after shouting at DS2 who was just messing about - very mean as he deserves my attention too). We then go back to the issue of lunch and I get this worked up crying as there is no easy answer. Can't have school lunch and won't have any lunchbox save the one he always uses.
So, I said DS1 could come home just for today until we found or replaced the lunchbox. We all ended up crying so it seemed the easiest option.
I even left them sitting on the stairs and told DS1 to get himself to school as I was sick of it and went in to the living room and their conversation was pitiful:
DS1 'I don't know what she means - a 7 year old and a 4 year old can't take themselves to school, ask her what she means, and I don't know where she is'
DS2 (who is 4!) 'She is in the living room,she has shut the door, she means she is angry and doesn't want to take us to school'
DS1 'well that doesn't make sense, a 7 year old and a 4 year old can't take themselves to school, we will get knocked over and die'
Obviously, at this point, I come and give them hugs and sort it out. But then we had had to take car to school to drop off as it started to rain andhad screams about that.
At school, DS1 was not following instrunctions about what to take in to class and seemed really confused but went in ok if a few minutes late.
God, I just feel like I've soaked up two tons of stress before the day has started. No matter how hard we plan, there is nothing you can do aboiut those little moments of spontaneity that life throws out you and which make DS1 holler
I should be more patient, and I usually am, but sometimes don't you get sick of it?