We should also say that the weekend was rather touch and go and that, last night, Joe had an epic tantrum that lasted roughly two hours. It all began when Julie pulled into the garage with the bambini. It was then that Joe said we need to go back to school and collect his dinosaur magnets. (The theme this week is dinosaurs. The magnets are visiting, together with some other dinosaur paraphernalia.) Julie said that would not be possible as we were home for the night, besides which, the magnets were visiting his room. Pouting began.
When Julie went to unbuckle him, Joe pulled the classic Daddy-Want-To-Do-It Ploy. Julie replied that Daddy was in the house waiting for us. Pouting continued and ticked up a notch. No matter. Julie is a practiced steam roller and merrily asked Joe to get out of the car and close his door on the way and marched off. Wails broke out--but Joe moved, got out, closed the car door, and ran, reaching the gate leading to the front door and yard before Julie and Clara--and there, Fans, is where things really went off the rails.
Joe had attempted to lift open the gate latch in his be-mittened hand, and wanted Julie to pull the gate open. Julie said no. She said no because the latch is even with Our Hero's face, the gate sticks in cold weather, and she feared the stiff tug necessary to open it would end with the latch plowing into Our Hero's face. It's fair to say that Joe was furious about this turn of events.
Julie, determined to remain calm, marched herself off to the back door with Clara. Joe was hot on their heels and grabbed Julie's legs. Julie handed Clara off to Ted and began shuffling her way inside. Joe continued to scream and hold on. Eventually, he let go and ran back outside to try the gate again. Then inside. Then outside. Then inside. Then outside. Then inside.
Then, he decided to try the old Now-I'll-Do-It-The-Way-You-Said-Let-s Do-A-Redo! Ploy. Julie broke out the old That-Ship-Has-Sailed-Buddy Ploy, but noted there was still time to get in on the coat, hat, mitten, and shoe removal action before some washing hands action before some eating dinner action.
Joe wanted no part of that action.
Things continued on in this vein. Joe said he needed hugs. Hugs were dispensed, but they did not really even stem the tide. Julie suggested Joe read a book to calm down as he has done in the past. Joe couldn't turn the pages (because he was still wearing his mittens--still hopin' for that do over!), and also screamed through his tears that he couldn't read. He asked for someone to read it to him. The someone's with the requisite level of literacy were eating dinner. Those same someone's explained that they understood he was upset, but that it was dinnertime, and if he wanted to eat, time was of the essence.
Joe cried louder and harder. By now, Julie was also crying. Ted said that we were doing the right thing though. The right thing is very hard sometimes. (Turns out, we were learning the same thing Joe was.)
Then it was bath time. By that time, Joe had his shoes, coat, hat, and mittens off, but was negotiating for a do over on the eating dinner. That ship, too, had sailed. Our Hero was much dismayed to hear it.
But by that time, he was running out of steam. He got into his pajamas, and Fans, doesn't the world always look better when you're padding about in your pajamas? By the time both bambini were gathered on the couch with both of us, Joe had quieted.
But he was not yet done. No. He had enough fight left in him to act silly and distract Clara during the before bed story time. (Such hilarity is part of the reason why Julie does not yet typically read books to the bambini at the same time, but the hour was late--and patience was dangling by the slenderest of fraying threads.)
Tonight--naturally--we sailed smoothly from garage to sink to table to tub to couch to bed. Who can say why? Our Hero has been transitioning into the third and final pre-school room before the pre-kindergarten room at school. He has dropped his afternoon nap. He is now wearing 4T clothes; he's growing. He's three-and-a-half. Is it one of these things? All of these things? None of these things? Some, but others, too? We don't know.
In any case, after Julie and Joe read stories, they had a chat about listening. Although Joe now has an attention span slightly longer than that of a flea, she still kept it brief. She said listening was important because:
1. We have more fun when we listen.
2. Listening keeps us safe.
3. We have to show Clara how it's done.
She asked Joe what he was going to do tomorrow, especially at school. He said, "Listen."
And Julie said, "Listen, Pal-o: I am so proud of you. You rocked the listening at home tonight. I know you can do it tomorrow, too."
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