Patience Required

Alex has been so difficult lately: very defiant, screaming at the top of his lungs when he doesn't get his way, flopping to the floor and refusing to get up. It's been taxing, and I realized yesterday that I've been taking his behavior personally. I've been getting upset and angry, and not engaging the same patience I would with a child at school with the same behavior. "I'm his mother. He should listen to me. He should let me help him deescalate when he's upset." In my desire to fix his problems I get frustrated, and it shows. Realizing my lack of patience yesterday made a difference. I was able to stay calm, and because I didn't let my anger show he, in turn, didn't get even more upset. Sigh of relief. Hopefully over the next week of being off of school we can both work on this and get better.

Birds and Bees

Spencer just asked me "Mommy, why does the man insert his p---- into the woman's va...va...?" I almost had a heart attack. He's reading his children's encyclopedia. I didn't realize there was a section on reproduction. With a nicely labeled illustration of the process. Egad! I told him why (to make a baby) and that animals do it, too. "That's weird," he said.