When Moms Throw Tantrums

I like to think of myself as a fairly low-key mom. I’m not a yeller. I’ll discipline my kids, but not especially harshly (no spanking or ear pulling—though I have been known to take away dessert for an entire week). In other words, I like to keep a lid on it. Losing control makes me unhappy.

But sometimes? When the four-year-old has been thrashing and whining for an hour straight and the six-year-old has no idea what a social cue is or how to stop the chitchat for two seconds, when your daughter has had strep all week and you’re not feeling so hot yourself, when you’re trying to pull together dinner and your husband is late coming home yet again, a small explosion can’t be helped.

I feel sorry for J. I do. He works like crazy all week, then comes home one evening and all is well for about ten minutes. Both kids are at the table making Valentines. I am dishing up dinner like the 1950s housewife I’ve become. And, quickly, the situation deteriorates. It starts with Belle, who falls apart because her handwriting isn’t as neat as her brother’s. She howls at the top of her very ample lungs.

J. volunteers to hold off on dinner and take her up for a calming bath.

Only problem is, I’ve worked the whole evening around trying to make things peaceful so he doesn’t step into the mayhem he’s been dreading the whole commute home. (Read Full Story…)