I had a total breakdown last night. He was screaming and I couldn't stay calm, which just made him worse. So I handed the little bagpipe to Mom and went on to have a screaming, crying fit of my own. Then I did some reading on anger management as it relates to being a parent, etc. I wrote down all my feelings and my plan. I have a zero-tolerance policy for my angry fits. They won't happen again.
I had a total breakthrough this morning. He was crying and screaming and arching his back. I stayed calm by speaking calmly to him. Telling him I really wanted him to stop. And that it makes me sad and mad when he does this. And that Daddy has him and was trying to fix whatever was wrong. Of course, he understands none of this. But saying it out loud is the release I needed instead of letting it build up and get me angry. And saying it calmly helped soothe him. I knew he had recently been changed, so didn't think that was the issue. He didn't seem cold or hot. I wasn't quite sure about gas. But he did seem to be hungry. So I told him we'd go see if the Booby factory was open or if I needed to heat a bottle. We found out the Booby factory would open in a few minutes, so we binkied and pinkied and managed to stay fairly calm until then.
FILE UNDER: PARENTHOOD
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Good job, Daddy! I had anger management issues of my own when Gavin was around your boy's age. At some points I would just put him in his swing and go outside and sit on the porch for a few minutes. It's frustrating, I know. But it sounds like you are learning to deal and handling it like a champ!
Thanks.
If it gets to be too much just set him back down and go away for a while and come back when you feel better. He isn't going to go anywhere and if you're calmed down it seems they can sense it and it helps to calm them down too.
Maybe he had a fever
http://bbspot.com/News/2005/12/cooling_your_kids.html
That's a riot. I've got several extra fans, We'll have to give that a try! ;-)
I'm proud of you for finding a way to deal with your anger/frustration. The boy and I need you more than anything and knowing your there to help us 100% is more comforting than you realize. I know it's hard. It's very, very completely and unfairly hard, but damn he's the cutest little guy I've ever seen. And he's worth it.
We love you!!
The wife & the boy.
Post a Comment