My Son Doesn’t Know His Own Strength
My son has always been passionate, which any seasoned parent knows is code for “his temper tantrums are pretty impressive to watch.” Even as a small infant, when he was upset about something he made sure that everyone within shrieking distance knew about it. On the flip side, he is just as passionate about demonstrating his love and adoration for me when I walk in a room, so it balances out nicely.
As my son continues to grow, however, his all-out fits (although rare) are becoming harder to manage. Picture this:
Mom & son walk happily through the store Mom is pushing cart, son is walking alongside the cart. Son gets to pick out a small toy, but soon decides he doesn’t like the toy he got and wants to exchange it for a different one. Mom says no because of time constraints. Son doesn’t like this answer.
- Son starts flailing around on floor, screaming and kicking. Mom tries to strap him into cart but realizes the straps are broken. She places him inside the cart and tries to hold him down while checking out.
- Mom fears son will flail himself out of the cart, so she finishes paying and then slings him over shoulder. The pattern to the car becomes push cart, adjust son, push cart, adjust son, repeat.
- Son is so upset that he makes a concerted attempt to wriggle out of mom’s grasp. In the process, he dislocates mom’s shoulder.
Not only has my son blessed me with stretch marks and a bad back, but now I can add an injured shoulder to my list of battle wounds resulting from being his mom. I’m bracing myself because if he’s inflicted this much on me in his first two years I wonder what’s coming.
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