The proverbial %&*# has hit the fan. I got a call last week at my job from the Devil’s school. He was losing his damn mind in the background as I talked to a supervisor, the cherry on top of a long day overseeeing the operations of a 200 staff early childhood department. I don’t know the details but apparently someone asked him to do something that he didn’t want to do and it ended with him throwing a bunch of toys onto the floor, pissing off his classmates who put them away all neat, and panicking the staff. The kid can be intense, I can’t even deny that.
The incident, the most recent of several, made us finally pull the trigger on making a decision that we just couldn’t make up until this point. My wife resigned from her job on Friday, taking a lower paying part time unionized job with full benefits. I asked my awesome boss for shorter work days for the next four weeks, which is when the wife starts her new job, so I can pick my boy up from school earlier. (After consulting with several child development professionals we came to the conclusion that the Devil needs shorter days; that’s what has guided our decision.) Â
Had you told me four years ago that my wife and I would be making these kind of sacrifices, I’d have called you stupid. But here we are doing just that. I could have never predicted my boy’s personality and disposition – not in a million years. I love that little boy more than ANYTHING on this planet, despite the fact that he is the meanist, grouchiest, most stubborn person I’ve ever known. I’m not backing down though. This kid has a daddy and mommy that’s it in it for the long haul and he had better recognize!Â
Life is about to get real interesting (better?) for us starting tomorrow when I leave work at 2pm for the first time to get the Devil from school. Stay tuned….
he’s how old? he’s acting out because he should be at home with you and/or your wife. that’s commendable that you two are sacrificing jobs in order to spend more time with him. you’ll notice a big difference.
The sacrifices we make for these kids! Whew! Wishing your family all the best during this time of transition.
I know the feeling, my 7 year-old was having “trouble” in school like that and we did every kind of punishment you could think of, I was willing make a dungeon and torture the devil out of him but I know that is a dream. It was just fustrating to get a call every other day or a note sent home on how bad my son was in school. Then out of the blue he calmed down. Just keep at and make the sacrifices but You and your wife stay on a united front. Children can sense when parents dont agree on something and they will go for the old divde and conquer.
Congrats on finding a potential solution, mutually agreeing on it, and acting on it.
I’ve noticed that a number of “wild child” youths become very calm so-called “normal” teenagers and adults. Clearly, it’s committed parents like you and your wife that are responsible for these miraculous transformations.
Good luck.
Just wanted to chime in and say I respect what you and your wife are doing. If faced with a similar situation I hope to be able to do the same thing.
That love we have for our kids is a doozey.
-T
Clare’s Mom and I didn’t realize how many changes we’d have to make before Clare was born either. Five years ago we figured we’d just keep living our lives with Clare tagging along. But a stubborn kid with his or her own ideas changes that a lot.
Good luck with the job and schedule changes.
man, you guys are great. good things are bound to happen. these years go by so fast – you’ll always be glad you did what you thought was right.
It is a great thing you and your wife are doing. You are TRYING. I’m proud of you, and your son will appreciate your sacrifices…one day. For a long time though, I suspected he will think he is entitled. 🙂
First time here but I’m loving it already. Your son does sound like a handful, but you and your wife seem ready for the challenge.
Wow, this is huge. Hang in there — all three of you! Have you read the stuff about “spririted” children??? About a year ago I came to fully realize that my twin boys (one of them especially) is definately “spirited,” and I started to read all that stuff. It has really helped me to understand how to deal with them and also how to cope with it myself. I swear, sometimes when I read your posts I feel like they could be my posts!!! I am right there with you, right there with you! Keep on keepin on! Heather
You all are doing the right thing. no one loves your child as much as you do. You know how to handle him in the way that works with him, without the cookie cutter solutions that day cares and schools try to find, while they supposedly “celebrate” the individual…