My Head Just Might Explode

So I have been trying to make an effort to be more patient with my children. I swear I would need the patience of a saint to not loose my cool every once in a while, but none-the-less I'm trying. I've been feeling like my life consists of yelling, yelling and then a little bit more yelling. I wanted to try and change that.

Ok - so tonight is truly trying my convictions to keep my cool. Brian left for a meeting and I was left to bathe, read, and put the kids to bed. Now usually I can say that this process goes quite smoothly. Turn on the TV babysitter and I can easily bathe one while the other is vegging out to Go Diego Go! or Dora the Explorer. However it always seems like the rest gives me trouble - it's on to PJ's, teeth-brushing, hair drying, and book reading.

Bella decides that she wants to brush her teeth all by herself . . . which creates a slight problem because I need to brush her teeth. So we fight over that . . . then on to book-reading where the kids have to argue about which books to read and who gets to flip the pages. Who gets to flip the freaking pages - are you kidding me!?!?! Oh no . . . I'm not kidding.

Through all that . . . I'm still keeping my cool. Yeah me!!! Now comes the best part . . . Kadin. My wonderful son . . . let me rephrase that . . . my wonderful stubborn as a mule son. I hear him whimper to me that he wants a drink as I'm getting Bella situated in her crib with her 17 books, her Barbie doll, her 3 blankies and her stuffed ghost. Geez . . .

So I tell him to go in the bathroom and get a drink while I finish up with Bella. Here's where I realize I am in big trouble. Kadin doesn't want to get a drink . . . not really. He wants to pretend that he wants a drink . . . so he can whine about not getting a drink. Parents - ever get to play this one??? Oooh . . . it's one of my favorites . . .

So I go to tuck Kadin in to bed and he of course won't go because his throat is soooo parched and he can't go to sleep without that cool drink of water - which if you remember I told him to go and get . . . .but oh yeah - that's not part of the game.

Kadin: I want a drink!
Me: I already told you that if you want a drink go in the bathroom and get one. I'm not going to play this game with you.
Kadin: But I want a drink!
Me: Kadin - I'm not doing this. Either get into bed or go and get a drink.

He doesn't move - he just begins to cry.

Me: Kadin I am turning out the light now and I'm leaving this room. If you want a drink you know where the bathroom is. Good night.

YES! All done without loosing my cool. Yeah me again!

Fast forward 20 minutes and he's still walking around the house crying about his drink. Peeking into the kitchen . . . sneaking downstairs . . . running into the living room. So now I'm getting mad. I stop him heading down the stairs . . .

Me: Kadin what is the problem?
Kadin:
Me: What? What do you need?
Kadin:
Me: Kadin you better tell me what you need right now. I am getting very angry with you. (keep in mind my blood is boiling and all I want to do is grab him by the arm and drag him back to his room)
Kadin: I want a drink.

Geesh! Is this for real??? Am I getting punked??? What kind of stupid God-for-saken game is this???? I freaking hate this game!!!!!! Why does my child insist on messing with my head??? I seriously want to strangle him right now . . . . and the part that keeps me from doing that is the part that tries to remember when I was a kid . . . . and feeling that feeling of wanting something so bad, but knowing you screwed it up, and then getting even more mad because you still want it. Do you remember this? It's the classic fit . . . and Kadin was full blown in it.

Kadin has admitted that he does things to get our attention - even if that attention is getting yelled at. He just thrives on being the center of attention. So I tried to teach him a lesson tonight without giving in. I ignored him.

He pranced around me as I was typing this post saying . . .

"I want a drink. I'm so thirsty . . . I want a drink . . . . mom won't let me have one . . . I can't make up my mind."

At one point he started to make a song out of it. It was quite catchy . . .

That boy finally gave up around 9:30 . . . almost an hour of carrying on over a stinking drink of water. I honestly don't even know if he took that drink or not . . . but you know what gives me the greatest satisfaction . . . .

I WON . . . . . . I WON . . . . . . I WON!!!!!