I still like you Daddy
Tonight Jack previewed what life is going to be like in approximately 10 years around these parts.
Being almost 3, he is a curious boy who has a problem controlling his impulses. You can see the conflict on his face when presented with the choice of not hitting his sister or losing his video time. In almost every case, he chooses to hit her because he just can't stop himself. I forget this lack of impulse control more often than I should and am trying to be more mindful of allowing his 3-year-oldness to shine through.
This evening, I had to go out to buy diapers while Josh was giving Emmie her bath. Jack was watching his nightly video when I left, which usually means he is glued to the couch and can be trusted to stay out of trouble. He came upstairs at one point and Josh asked if he was done watching his video. He said no and went back downstairs. With a new Diaper Genie refill in his possession. One his father did not see him pick up.
When I arrived home, it smelled powdery-fresh throughout the house. I found a snaking pile of green plastic all over the living room carpet and a dark television screen. I walked upstairs and said, "I don't even want to know."
Josh said he heard the noise but didn't realize what it was until it was too late. Jack had pulled the entire length of plastic out of the container, ruining the contraption and rendering it unusable. As he was cutting the TV time short and taking a sobbing toddler upstairs for punishment, Jack told Josh, "No like daddy. Like Mommy."
Talk about a knife to the heart. You expect it at 13. Hell, you probably deserve it by 13 for all the terrible, mean things you have inflicted upon your child. But at almost 3? Poor Daddy.
And no, not even a little part of me was secretly glad to be the favorite. I felt genuinely sad for him. He said it didn't bother him, but it would have bothered me. I know Jack's just testing us to make sure the love is unconditional, and it certainly is, but it's still hard to hear. And I know that in the blink of an eye, his allegiance could switch to Daddy and he could leave me in the dust.
But oh my, if this is his reaction to losing TV time, I can't imagine what we are in for when it comes to things like bad grades and sneaking out of the house.
Being almost 3, he is a curious boy who has a problem controlling his impulses. You can see the conflict on his face when presented with the choice of not hitting his sister or losing his video time. In almost every case, he chooses to hit her because he just can't stop himself. I forget this lack of impulse control more often than I should and am trying to be more mindful of allowing his 3-year-oldness to shine through.
This evening, I had to go out to buy diapers while Josh was giving Emmie her bath. Jack was watching his nightly video when I left, which usually means he is glued to the couch and can be trusted to stay out of trouble. He came upstairs at one point and Josh asked if he was done watching his video. He said no and went back downstairs. With a new Diaper Genie refill in his possession. One his father did not see him pick up.
When I arrived home, it smelled powdery-fresh throughout the house. I found a snaking pile of green plastic all over the living room carpet and a dark television screen. I walked upstairs and said, "I don't even want to know."
Josh said he heard the noise but didn't realize what it was until it was too late. Jack had pulled the entire length of plastic out of the container, ruining the contraption and rendering it unusable. As he was cutting the TV time short and taking a sobbing toddler upstairs for punishment, Jack told Josh, "No like daddy. Like Mommy."
Talk about a knife to the heart. You expect it at 13. Hell, you probably deserve it by 13 for all the terrible, mean things you have inflicted upon your child. But at almost 3? Poor Daddy.
And no, not even a little part of me was secretly glad to be the favorite. I felt genuinely sad for him. He said it didn't bother him, but it would have bothered me. I know Jack's just testing us to make sure the love is unconditional, and it certainly is, but it's still hard to hear. And I know that in the blink of an eye, his allegiance could switch to Daddy and he could leave me in the dust.
But oh my, if this is his reaction to losing TV time, I can't imagine what we are in for when it comes to things like bad grades and sneaking out of the house.
posted by Amy at
10:14 PM
2 Comments:
I think this is just the beginning........
My almost four-year-old son wants nothing to with me when his daddy is around. I sometimes feel like the two of them are teaming up on me. You can feel bad for Josh all you want, but one day it might be you. Josh might just laugh.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home