The Screamer II
Today it was William's turn to throw a wobbly at the pool. All was well to start with until he discovered the big steps where he didn't actually have to swim at all, from then on whenever I tried to coax him out into deeper water he screamed blue murder. Finally I decided to play the 'I'm stronger than you' card and dragged him out with me anyway - a good move as it turned out because he was so determined to get back that he didn't notice I'd let go and was already 5 feet behind him as he whirred his way back to the shallows. So far so good. Until it was time to get out....
To say all hell broke loose would be an understatement. From the minute I said we had to go and get James William was having none of it and proceeded to work himself up into one of the worst tantrums I think he's ever had. I did the classic, gritted-teeth-Mother bit trying to get him to stop, but in the end gave up and just stoically wrestled him into his clothes, flung everything into the bag and got my own stuff on while still dripping.
Amidst a sea of horrified faces I then had to tuck a manically screaming and wriggling Will under my arm to get to the creche as he was now beyond walking. We eventually made it only for Will to fling himself at the door yelling to be allowed out while I went to get the angelic James who was happily bouncing in a chair with the other little babies.
On we went, toward the carpark, with Will now livid at being made to wear a coat and furiously trying to sit down and remove it while I dragged him outside. To make matters even worse, we then bumped into a friend from the village who tried to coax Will out from behind the pillar where he was hiding - a nice try but ultimately fruitless and seriously embarressing.
So. Out of the gym and Will makes a break for the grass, at which point I snap, grab him by the elbow, manhandle him across the carpark and lob him into the car seat. Banana. He squirms off the seat and refuses to get back in. I slam the door and look after a now-screaming James. After strapping James in I return to Will's side and after what seems like a lifetime I finally manage to get him strapped in, no mean feat when all his limbs are rigid and he is still bellowing.
In desperation I turn to Rabbit. "Rabbit Loor" is the response, so Rabbit stays on the floor, only for Will to then decide that he wants Rabbit, by which time we've set off so it's too late; "My Rabbit, my Rabbit, my Rabbit, My Rabbit.....is all I hear for the 20 minutes it takes to get home. I turn on 'A Day in the Life' to calm down. When we get back I try to explain why I'm cross, that much he knows but I don't know if he understands why.
How on Earth one reasons with a 2 year old is absolutely beyond me. Only now, after lunch, having put him to bed (and then walked out slamming the door), playing with James and having had a shower, do I feel even faintly normal.
To say all hell broke loose would be an understatement. From the minute I said we had to go and get James William was having none of it and proceeded to work himself up into one of the worst tantrums I think he's ever had. I did the classic, gritted-teeth-Mother bit trying to get him to stop, but in the end gave up and just stoically wrestled him into his clothes, flung everything into the bag and got my own stuff on while still dripping.
Amidst a sea of horrified faces I then had to tuck a manically screaming and wriggling Will under my arm to get to the creche as he was now beyond walking. We eventually made it only for Will to fling himself at the door yelling to be allowed out while I went to get the angelic James who was happily bouncing in a chair with the other little babies.
On we went, toward the carpark, with Will now livid at being made to wear a coat and furiously trying to sit down and remove it while I dragged him outside. To make matters even worse, we then bumped into a friend from the village who tried to coax Will out from behind the pillar where he was hiding - a nice try but ultimately fruitless and seriously embarressing.
So. Out of the gym and Will makes a break for the grass, at which point I snap, grab him by the elbow, manhandle him across the carpark and lob him into the car seat. Banana. He squirms off the seat and refuses to get back in. I slam the door and look after a now-screaming James. After strapping James in I return to Will's side and after what seems like a lifetime I finally manage to get him strapped in, no mean feat when all his limbs are rigid and he is still bellowing.
In desperation I turn to Rabbit. "Rabbit Loor" is the response, so Rabbit stays on the floor, only for Will to then decide that he wants Rabbit, by which time we've set off so it's too late; "My Rabbit, my Rabbit, my Rabbit, My Rabbit.....is all I hear for the 20 minutes it takes to get home. I turn on 'A Day in the Life' to calm down. When we get back I try to explain why I'm cross, that much he knows but I don't know if he understands why.
How on Earth one reasons with a 2 year old is absolutely beyond me. Only now, after lunch, having put him to bed (and then walked out slamming the door), playing with James and having had a shower, do I feel even faintly normal.
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