It was about 7:30 in the evening (his summer bedtime is somewhere around 8:30) and William wanted to watch the same episode of Team Ummi Zoomi that he had already seen earlier that day. It was about a robot dinosaur and that's pretty much a cross-bread of the two COOLEST things EVER for a toddler boy, so this was about as awesome as TV gets (in his little head).
All the while, Landon was screaming his tiny little face off. Cheers to evening fussy periods! And Dom wasn't home bc he didn't get home until almost 9.
Anyway, I didn't back down and therefore I didn't let Will watch the same episode of T.U.Z. again and he FLIPPED out. I think most of his flipping out came from the fact that his little brother was screaming, so he wanted to out-do him (which he totally can with those almost 3 year old lungs) and because he was bored all day and because he missed his Daddy. Normally Dom does something more active with William (i.e. work outside, horse around inside, go to the park) than I do with him since I am sitting on a chair for 4 hours a day. Since William didn't get this perk this evening, he was especially upset. Anyway, I told Will that we could either go outside or go upstairs and go to bed. He said, "I don't want to go outside with you!" So I said, "Ok we are going upstairs and getting ready for bed!"
That process took a long time and resulted in him screaming in a corner of his room without pants or a diaper on. And yes, I prayed fervently that my angel baby would not pee on my carpet.
Still not backing down, and still hearing Little Landon screaming his head off downstairs, I finally made William get ready for bed and got his pjs on. We were then able to read two books. About dinosaurs. A fair settlement if you ask me. After our kiss and hug and nightly prayers for Chuck E. Cheese, the Giraffe Store, the Letter store, and the Big Box store he said the saddest words.
What were those words? "Mommy I am sorry for having a fight with you."
Tears. What a rough night, that never resulted in silence... well at least until I finally went to bed.
Now, what was the first thing Will said when he woke up this morning?
"Mommy, I am sorry we had a fight last night." I just about bawled again. We sat there and hugged one another for dear life.
What were the next words that he said?
"Now I can watch Team Ummi Zoomi the dinosaur one?!?!?"
... man that kid doesn't forget a thing.
Now I know it's good that he apologized first (in the parenting book I am reading, the author talks about how most parents are the first to apologize and then over-reward their kids out of guilt), but those were the hardest words to hear.
I'm sorry we had a fight too, Bubz. I love you and trust me, I am trying so hard to do my best for you... for me... for all of us.






