KC but no sunshine band
New Member
Hello all,
:sad:
I have been so happy lately... no meltdowns, no issues, stress was down to a minimum. Then, poof... my son decides the last two mornings that he doesn't have to focus to get ready for school; he can take a half an hour or more to get dressed. Yesterday I spoke with him about it and let him know that this was unacceptable. He is very bright and he knows this anyways but likes to push the envelope. (so to speak) This morning we went through the same routine... he took his sweet time getting dressed for school. This leaves him a very small window for eating his breakfast, brushing his teeth, taking his medications, and getting on the bus. When he came downstairs, he took extra time just to figure out which cereal he wanted for breakfast. When I asked him to focus and move quickly, he tried to tell me that he can't help it... "that's the way I am." :hammer: At that point, I told him that I didn't buy his reasoning because it was an excuse. This of course, started a meltdown.... "You NEVER buy my reasons!", he screamed. I told him that if in fact he tells me a valid reason that I do buy them but this was an excuse because I know he is capable of focusing and getting things done more quickly. I also informed him that he was getting a sandwich for lunch today being as he took so long to get ready. He was supposed to have pizza for lunch. He tried begging and pleading but when he found that this wasn't working he went into a full blown rage. That is when he took the cereal box and banged it very hard on the table two or three times while it was open. You've probably guessed by now.... my dining area is showered in Golden Grahams cereal. That finished my patience. I told him that he wasn't getting breakfast now that he had spilled it all over and he had better clean it up. He started to fume some more and I saw another round about to come when I told him that if he didn't do as I said, I would call the bus driver and tell her not to come because he would be walking to school. (I would never do this as his school is across the city-but he believes me and that is what counts at this point) He worked on cleaning up the cereal for about 4 or 5 minutes but due to time restraints, I told him to get his shoes on and take his medications. By the time the bus had arrived, he was ready and eating toast that he took with him on the bus. He had settled down and seemed to be ok. :crazy:
Now I am left with the mess in the kitchen and the emotional emptiness. (For just having a full night's sleep, I am drained already and could easily crawl back into bed) To make matters worse, I have to work the evening shift tonight and won't be able to follow through with him tonight.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel I did the right things but YIKES! :faint: This takes so much out of us as parents.
Sorry this is such a long post.
:sad:
I have been so happy lately... no meltdowns, no issues, stress was down to a minimum. Then, poof... my son decides the last two mornings that he doesn't have to focus to get ready for school; he can take a half an hour or more to get dressed. Yesterday I spoke with him about it and let him know that this was unacceptable. He is very bright and he knows this anyways but likes to push the envelope. (so to speak) This morning we went through the same routine... he took his sweet time getting dressed for school. This leaves him a very small window for eating his breakfast, brushing his teeth, taking his medications, and getting on the bus. When he came downstairs, he took extra time just to figure out which cereal he wanted for breakfast. When I asked him to focus and move quickly, he tried to tell me that he can't help it... "that's the way I am." :hammer: At that point, I told him that I didn't buy his reasoning because it was an excuse. This of course, started a meltdown.... "You NEVER buy my reasons!", he screamed. I told him that if in fact he tells me a valid reason that I do buy them but this was an excuse because I know he is capable of focusing and getting things done more quickly. I also informed him that he was getting a sandwich for lunch today being as he took so long to get ready. He was supposed to have pizza for lunch. He tried begging and pleading but when he found that this wasn't working he went into a full blown rage. That is when he took the cereal box and banged it very hard on the table two or three times while it was open. You've probably guessed by now.... my dining area is showered in Golden Grahams cereal. That finished my patience. I told him that he wasn't getting breakfast now that he had spilled it all over and he had better clean it up. He started to fume some more and I saw another round about to come when I told him that if he didn't do as I said, I would call the bus driver and tell her not to come because he would be walking to school. (I would never do this as his school is across the city-but he believes me and that is what counts at this point) He worked on cleaning up the cereal for about 4 or 5 minutes but due to time restraints, I told him to get his shoes on and take his medications. By the time the bus had arrived, he was ready and eating toast that he took with him on the bus. He had settled down and seemed to be ok. :crazy:
Now I am left with the mess in the kitchen and the emotional emptiness. (For just having a full night's sleep, I am drained already and could easily crawl back into bed) To make matters worse, I have to work the evening shift tonight and won't be able to follow through with him tonight.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel I did the right things but YIKES! :faint: This takes so much out of us as parents.
Sorry this is such a long post.