Posted on July 22, 2015 by heatherlauraclarke
“I want to leave the family,” he mumbled without meeting my eyes. Six little words felt like six sharp punches to my stomach.
He was lying on his bed, staring off into the distance while I sat on the edge and tried to process what he just said.
Our five-year-old had been angry when I’d put him to bed, complaining he wasn’t tired and he didn’t want to sleep. I’d told him to read a book (well, you know, look at the pictures) or play quietly with his toys until he felt sleepy, but he needed to stay in his bedroom.
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Unrelated photo of another feeling-hurter |
His fury would not be shushed, though, and he continued to rage against the man (evil overlord mom-type) for the next 20 minutes. As I worked in my office downstairs, I heard whining and muttering over the baby monitor. He was grumbling about how it wasn’t fair that he had to go to bed, and he didn’t want to stay in his room and he wasn’t tired, so there.
I heard our three-year-old slip into his room and try to talk to him, and he continued his complaints about me and my tyrannical ways. I figured he would simmer down soon, and continued working. But a couple of minutes later, I heard our daughter’s voice tattling through the baby monitor.
“Mamaaaa! Dess-er say he want to weave da fam-a-wee!”
Category: Annoyances, Crying, Tantrums
I’m Heather Laura Clarke. I’m journalist and blogger in beautiful Nova Scotia, I have a 10-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter, I married my high school sweetheart, and this is the story of my handmade life.
I have depression and anxiety, and I fight like hell every day to keep it from taking over my life. Making things isn’t just a hobby — it’s part of what keeps me alive.
Whether I’m working on my novel, decorating a room, busting out my power tools to build furniture, getting muddy in the pottery studio, sewing clothes for my kids, or cross-stitching a swear word, I’m all about using my creativity to craft a life I love.
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